CHESHIRE EAST GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN
OCTOBER 2019
Prepared by The Environment Partnership for Cheshire East Council
A Green Infrastructure Plan for Cheshire East 2019 to 2030
Contents HS2 Corridor Northern Forest
Foreword Principal Towns Macclesfield Executive Summary Crewe
Key Service Centres Part A – Priorities and Activity Alsager
Congleton A green vision Handforth
Knutsford Cheshire East’s priorities Middlewich Nantwich Setting the scene Poynton Sandbach Mapping and evidence Wilmslow
Our GI Activity Areas Part C – Delivering the GI Plan
Partnership Part B – The GI Plan Assets Communities Landscape-scale Projects Landowners Development Bollin Riverlands Infrastructure Wade and Smoker Brooks Strategies Dane Valley Finance Wheelock Valley The Next Generation Weaver Valley Monitoring and Review Sandstone Ridge Peak District National Park & and Peak Fringe
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A Green Infrastructure Plan for Cheshire East 2019 to 2030
Foreword development and infrastructure will inevitably affect green spaces, making it an imperative to enhance the quality of retained green Cheshire East has an outstanding position on the plain between infrastructure or create more, to sustain quality of life and place. the Peak District in the east,the mid-Cheshire Sandstone Ridge in the west and the Mersey in the north. Its distinctive landscapes At the same time, climate change is a real and present danger to are near major transport hubs and economic centres making it a our health and wellbeing. Although target dates may vary a little, great place to live, work, invest and visit. most experts advise we have only a relatively short window to reverse the current trajectory towards irreversible global warming. Our green infrastructure contributes to our ‘Quality of Place’ and All of us living and working in Cheshire East have a responsibility to our strategies and plans, including the Environment Strategy, to act. Safeguarding our green infrastructure plays an important our Local Plan and others relating to health and wellbeing, rights role, whether this is through planting trees where appropriate, of way or green space. It provides opportunities to address the enhancing priority habitats, managing soils, sustainable climate emergency and improve sustainability through carbon management of water or reducing our personal carbon footprint capture and storage or through mitigating impacts such as flood by cycling and walking more. risk. It enables many people to enjoy the outdoors contributing to the wellbeing of our communities and our economy. Our outdoor Cheshire East aspires to a comprehensive and connected green environment provides £924m of value1 per year in terms of the infrastructure that will meet the needs of people and nature in the benefits that flow to society, such as food, flood management, 21st century; we aim to pass on a better environment to the next water and air quality improvement and health and wellbeing generation. Cheshire East Council is taking a lead, commissioning opportunities. We cannot take this for granted; if economic growth this Plan, incorporating policies in the Local Plan and bringing is to be sustainable, we must ensure a parallel increase in the forward an Environment Strategy to address the threat of climate quality of our environment in order to sustain our ’natural capital’. change.
The current Local Plan strategy sets a vision for growth, but one Much has already been achieved and this Plan celebrates the that is balanced in a sustainable way. It recognises the need for achievements of the Peak District National Park, of the many people to be able to lead healthy and active lifestyles benefiting environmental organisations or communities active in Cheshire from improved access to sporting facilities, high quality open East and of previous landscape-scale initiatives, such as the spaces, play areas, allotments, watercourses, water bodies and Bollin Valley Partnership. We also look forward to the delivery of the open countryside. It envisages a green infrastructure network exciting new schemes such as the National Trust’s Riverlands that will increase the provision of accessible green spaces, Project. supporting flora, fauna and improving general wellbeing. New Our green infrastructure is in good hands. Cheshire East has thousands of landowners, volunteers, green space managers, 1 Green Infrastructure Assessment of Cheshire East (2018) prepared by the water managers, trusts and campaigners who plan and care for Mersey Forest Team for Cheshire East Council their environment. All individuals and organisations with an
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interest in our environment can help the effort to achieve the goals set out in this Plan, for we can do more together than individually.
The Council will maintain a commitment to leadership but cannot deliver this agenda on its own. This Plan sets out an evidence base for what residents, employers, workers, landowners, developers and visitors could do to improve Cheshire East’s green infrastructure. The Plan offers an opportunity to take a coordinated approach to the management of the green infrastructure with the Council working closely with partners that share a common purpose. We hope this Plan will guide future approaches to green infrastructure in the Borough and help us address a sustainable future together
Signed
Cllr. Nick Mannion Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration
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A framework for improving our green infrastructure – an and improving our ‘natural capital’. Using GIS software, Executive Summary multifunctionality of GI has been mapped across Cheshire East, giving a useful indication as to how and where investment in GI This Green Infrastructure Plan has been commissioned by can support strategic themes and result in a range of benefits for Cheshire East Council as a road map for a more comprehensive Cheshire East’s residents and the environment. This builds on a and connected Green Infrastructure (GI) to meet the needs of Green Infrastructure Assessment undertaken for Cheshire East in people and nature in the 21st century and to pass on a better 2018 by the Mersey Forest. A prioritisation process uses objective environment to the next generation. spatial analysis, informed by stakeholder consultation, to identify The Plan can be used by Cheshire East Council, its residents, assets and ‘’pinch-points’’, which help set potential GI investment partners, landowners and developers to develop projects that priorities. deliver a net gain in GI. The Plan provides an evidence base and The spatial analysis is borough-wide and cannot fully capture framework for like-minded organisations or individuals who share local nuances and priorities. Thus, it is recognised that when a GI a vision for excellent GI; while it has been commissioned by investment is being made, local knowledge will be important in Cheshire East Council, it will be delivered through collective project design to optimise the response to local needs and contributions, with leadership shared and distributed across a opportunities. Particular benefit will arise when GI activity areas range of delivery mechanisms. The Plan highlights some strategic are combined to tackle multiple issues and draw together areas for further consideration and suggests some approaches to partnerships across several sections of the local community. partnership working and the involvement of communities or landowners. It envisages a place-based collaborative approach. The Green Infrastructure Plan identifies GI activities that can be aligned to projects and specific pinch points: To help realise the Local Plan vision and other environmental and place-making goals whilst highlighting areas where investment in Urban greening – creating and maintaining vibrant, GI can bring multiple benefits, the GI plan maintains a clear focus healthy and inspiring places where people want to live and on four strategic themes: work.
Economy Getting outdoors easily - engaging people and improving Life chances and choices community access to, and enjoyment of, GI for health and Environment wellbeing. Connectivity and movement
While most types of GI may have a primary purpose or function, by its nature GI is multi-functional, providing a range of benefits
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Rivers and valleys –catchment-wide activity to improve Priorities water quality, natural flood management, re-naturalisation 1. Increasing tree and woodland cover towards the national and tranquil enjoyment of watercourses and waterways. average 2. Contribute to the creation of a comprehensive and Thriving nature – creating and safeguarding well- connected network of GI connected networks of habitats. 3. Safeguard and enhance our GI assets in the face of climate change and population growth, recognising their Working alongside major infrastructure – integrating GI value in delivering numerous GI functions that meet local and wider needs. into major new infrastructure projects and retrofitting GI
alongside existing infrastructure. Initiatives 1. Facilitate catchment scale sensitive farming to improve soil A distinctive place for culture, heritage and tourism - and land management, reduce water pollution and enhancing the setting of and access to heritage, improve riparian habitats landscape and outdoor recreational assets. 2. Urban greening interventions, planned or retrofitted into the existing urban environments to address issues such as Environments for business – creating an attractive and air quality and provide shading, whilst improving the accessible setting for centres of employment and general health and wellbeing of local populations economic activity, both in towns and the countryside.
Farmland and soils – enabling land management which Whether it is existing, enhanced or newly created GI, it is conserves and restores soil productivity and improves recognised that to be effective in delivering potential GI benefits, carbon sequestration. the resource must be managed appropriately over the short, medium and long terms. The Plan highlights the need for effective The Plan goes on to apply this analysis at both a landscape scale management planning, delivery mechanisms and funding to in urban fringe and rural areas, followed by urban projects in the ensure that the existing resource or original investment in new principal towns and key service centres. infrastructure realise the intended benefits. Stakeholders in
Cheshire East have a good track record in raising funds for GI Opportunities 1. Reduce disparities in GI quality and multifunctionality and already have innovative mechanisms of using their land and between the north and south of the borough to benefit both corporate resources to improve the environment. The Plan Cheshire East’s residents and environment provides a framework for further consideration of the priorities and 2. Enhancing the accessibility of Cheshire East’s landscapes, mechanisms for taking this forward, including suggestions about whilst protecting their biodiversity and resilience to climate the need to develop a blended-finance approach. change, helping to ensure their continued value
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1 OUR GREEN VISION Natural Capital
Natural Capital is the collective value of the environment to What is green infrastructure? society including ecosystems, wildlife species, freshwater, land, minerals and the air. ‘Natural capital accounting’ provides a Our definition of Green Infrastructure (GI) is ….. means of valuing the ‘services’ that ecosystems provide to society and helps to articulate the value of Green infrastructure A network of multi-functional green space, urban and rural, which is capable of delivering a wide range of environmental and quality Green infrastructure – a positive investment of life benefits for local communities (National Planning Policy Framework 2019) There are four reasons that make a compelling case for investment in Cheshire East’s GI: Throughout this Green Infrastructure Plan reference will also be made to watercourses, water bodies and canals. These assets 1. Recreational, social and wellbeing: Our expectations of the are considered to form part of the overall network and within the quality of the places we live, work, play and enjoy are definition of GI. rising and we want to engage more with our local environment – we want to be able to walk and cycle on Multifunctionality safe, convenient routes, we want to play in local parks and we want to enjoy our local countryside and rivers and One of the principal drivers of GI planning is to manage land and canals– increasing investment now in maintaining and water in a more sustainable way. While most types of GI may creating these assets will make us healthier both have a primary purpose or function, by its nature GI is multi- physically and mentally and can have wider social benefits functional, providing a range of benefits and improving our ‘natural in addressing inequalities. capital’. By taking account of the fact that these functions co-exist, it allows us to design and use land more effectively or efficiently to 2. Economic: GI can demonstrate significant economic value generate multiple benefits for people, nature and climate. by helping to ameliorate climate change impacts or address adaptive capacity through sustainable drainage GI delivers a range of functions such as recreation, improving systems. Furthermore, as well as any direct economic health and wellbeing, supporting wildlife, mitigating and adapting value for products or tourism, GI adds value through to climate change, food production, managing water resources ‘Quality of Place’. Businesses need locations that offer and reducing flood risk and supporting heritage and cultural competitive advantages over others and make decisions assets. This multifunctionality has been assessed and mapped, that affect the lives of all our communities – sustained showing where in Cheshire East, GI can deliver up to 28 investment in GI now will lower long term development functions. costs and create attractive valuable environments that will raise land values, stimulate further economic investment,
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improve access to employment opportunities, create Those investing to secure social returns will expect GI to improve healthier working environments and a more productive the health and well-being of local people in addition to increased workforce. community ownership and resilience.
3. Wildlife and biodiversity: The environmental benefits of Those investing to deliver environmental returns will want GI to improving biodiversity and maintaining our landscapes are improve local biodiversity, air and water quality and help to lock important to the planet – continuing to invest in protecting up atmospheric carbon dioxide in soil, wetlands and woodlands. and enhancing our green and blue infrastructure assets will enable our wildlife and habitats and landscapes to However, by its nature, GI is multifunctional. So, whichever flourish. Climate change and biodiversity decline are real primary outcome is sought, it will deliver a wider range of and present dangers needing urgent action in terms of complementary benefits. woodland and wetland creation, soil conservation and establishment of wildlife-friendly landscapes. Purpose of the Green Infrastructure Plan 4. Climate change: The natural environment has significant potential to help mitigate or offset the impacts of climate This Green Infrastructure Plan has been commissioned by change and help to achieve ‘net zero’ targets. Investing in Cheshire East Council as a road map for a more comprehensive green and blue infrastructure can address issues such as and connected GI to meet the needs of people and nature in the carbon capture and storage, air and water quality, flood 21st century and to pass on a better environment to the next management, alternative modes of travel and alleviation of generation. high temperature fluctuations. Investment can create new economic value through natural, sustainable approaches The Plan can be used by Cheshire East Council, its residents, to the issues facing us, not only managing their impacts, partners, landowners and developers to develop projects that but making a positive contribution. Tree and woodland deliver a net gain in GI. The Plan provides a framework to guide planting, adaptation of agricultural systems, ‘slowing the future decision-making, investment and action. It is intended to be flow’ schemes and better management of soil health are of use to partners and influencers in GI delivery and management, examples of interventions with such benefits. rather than only for Cheshire East Council. It envisages a place- based collaborative approach. The returns from investing in GI can be calculated in economic, social and environmental terms, measurably improving our The Plan also provides evidence that will support Local Plan ‘natural capital value’. Those investing to derive economic returns policies, including the policies within Local Plan Part 2 which sets will look to GI to lower environmental risks through flood risk out the approach to planning up to 2030 and beyond. The local mitigation, for example. planning system will continue to support the context for investment in GI over the coming years. The planning system has
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several important “levers” to stimulate GI e.g. through policy in areas of:
Design guidance; GI standards for new development; Biodiversity net gain; and, Green Belt management.
The local planning system can stimulate creation, enhancement and management of GI in areas of new development and infrastructure.
Once delivered, GI needs appropriate and sensitive management. To be effective, on-going stewardship of the resource needs to be factored in from the outset, in terms of delivery mechanisms and the funding required over the medium to long-term.
However, the level of ambition for GI across the borough, and the limitations of public funding, means additional funding approaches need to be developed for implementation, operation, ongoing management and maintenance. The GI Plan will therefore suggest ways to diversify the investment funds used for GI capital and revenue expenditure, in order to ensure that sufficient investment is available without an over-reliance on any one funding source.
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2 CHESHIRE EAST’S STRATEGIC PRIORITIES Cheshire East will make a significant contribution to reducing carbon emissions and tackling climate change through the Cheshire East Council has already identified a series of priorities efficient use of energy, sustainable patterns of development and and policies that relate to any consideration of Green travel. Mineral resources will extracted sustainably and waste will Infrastructure. This section describes a number of the Council’s be reduced. Conservation and enhancement of the GI network will key documents and examples of other relevant policy contexts. be a priority for the benefit of future generations.
Cheshire East’s Local Plan Strategy (2017) Environment Strategy (2019-2024) The Local Plan sets out a vision and strategic priorities for development, alongside detailed planning policies and proposals The Council published its Environment Strategy (2019-2024) in for specific sites. Good quality green infrastructure is essential to September 2019 for public consultation (until November 2019). realise the Local Plan vision (see box below): The Strategy responds to the climate emergency as well as the Council’s Corporate Plan and its key aim is that Cheshire East is The vision for Cheshire East in 2030 is for an economically a green and sustainable place. prosperous area, with a skilled population benefitting from strong and diverse employment. It will benefit from strategic location near As part of its aim of helping the Council to become carbon-neutral, to Greater Manchester and the Potteries and adjoining the Peak the Strategy will seek to offset carbon and improve air quality District National Park. Quality of place will continue to make though the development of GI and the way the Council manages Cheshire East a desirable area to live, influenced by heritage and its estate. The Council’s commitment to carbon-neutrality will culture. require an appraisal of opportunities to increase carbon-storage on its own landholdings; through tree-planting, habitat creation New employment and housing will be characterised by quality of and soil conservation. place, and will be arranged to reduce the need to travel. New development will be directed towards the principal towns of Crewe Cheshire East’s rural and urban character is to be protected and and Macclesfield, to support regeneration, and also to key service enhanced through sensitive development, environmental centres which provide a range of services and facilities. management, transport and waste disposal policies.
Cheshire East’s population will enjoy a high quality of life with Economic Strategy good access to learning, work, services, shops and public transport. People will lead healthy lives benefitting from improved The Council’s five-year Economic Strategy 2019 – 2024 and access to sport facilities and the GI network. The GI network will associated Action Plan will support the area’s economic also improve wellbeing and will support flora and fauna. proposition, setting out their growth ambition and key priorities for delivery. It is complementary to the work being undertaken at sub-regional level to prepare a Local Industrial Strategy. The
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strategy recognises the need to ensure that a balanced approach It emphasises how ‘place’ is a crucial part of the attractiveness of to growth is obtained, environmental improvements keep pace the area. Without a commitment to place-making, it will be with the growth ambition and the need to protect and enhance the impossible to retain and attract well qualified, creative and quality of place and environment that is so important to the entrepreneurial talent or to sustain the best conditions for character of Cheshire East. businesses and people to flourish.
The Strategy celebrates the diversity of Cheshire East’s places Health and wellbeing and its leisure and cultural offer, and emphasises that place management must be at the heart of the many new development Cheshire East Council and its health partners have produced a and infrastructure schemes which will come forward over the next number of plans and strategies relating to health and wellbeing. decade; indeed that these schemes can and must drive positive For example, the Cheshire East Health and Care Partnership has change in quality of place. written a Five-Year Plan setting out ambitions to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Cheshire East. The Health The Strategy recognises that the natural environment is as and Wellbeing Board has developed a local ‘Joint Health and important a factor in Quality of Place as the built environment and Wellbeing Strategy’ (2018 -2021), based on their Joint Strategic addresses the need to review the implications of the Needs Assessment. The Board aims to make sure that local Government’s new 25 Year Environment Plan for the sub-region. services are in line with this Strategy. It also commits the LEP to develop proposals in collaboration with the Cheshire and Warrington Local Nature Partnership for Alongside these strategies, the Connected Communities strategy establishing a Natural Capital Plan for the sub-region. identifies how the Council will support and engage with communities including the voluntary, community and faith sector Landscape Scale Partnership Strategy (2016) and the many active volunteer based partnerships. GI can support positive life chances and choices, supporting measures to Cheshire East Council and the National Trust led on a landscape address health inequalities and open up community engagement scale study which grew out of recognition that the National Trust opportunities. and Cheshire East Council own significant areas of land in the north of the Borough. Working together can enable better site management, effective responses to opportunities and increase The Quality of Place Strategy the benefits for communities.
The Quality of Place Strategy prepared by Cheshire and The aims and objectives of the project included identifying a local Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is another distinctive landscape; defining ‘essence’ or ‘spirit of place’; companion document to this GI Plan. identifying opportunities and threats; and informing decision making.
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Cheshire East Greenspace Strategy (2019 update) agriculture, forestry, land use and fishing that puts the environment first. The Strategy reflects much of the Council’s thinking about how urban and country parks, green spaces, trails, canals, river valleys Alongside the 25 Year Environment Plan, the UK government has and places of interest should be managed and interconnected to a target to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by maintain health and wellbeing and biodiversity. It provides a 2050. GI has a potential to store large amounts of carbon, and complementary and important part of the evidence base for the indirectly it can encourage people to leave the car at home and Local Plan. walk or cycle, working towards the net zero target.
Northern Forest
Cheshire East lies within the ‘halo’ area of the Northern Forest, a long-term vision of the community forest movement to establish 50 million trees across the North of England for the purposes of improving wellbeing, reducing carbon footprints, creating quality places and enhancing the rural and visitor economy. Its proximity to the Northern Forest provides opportunities for Cheshire East to become part of the target area and contribute to its own tree planting ambitions. Recent research2 estimated that a worldwide planting programme could remove two-thirds of all the emissions that have been pumped into the atmosphere by human activities. It also identified this part of England as one with greater potential for tree planting.
25 Year Environment Plan (2018 onwards)
The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan sets out government action to help the natural world regain and retain good health. It aims to deliver cleaner air and water in the UK’s cities and rural landscapes, protect threatened species and provide richer wildlife habitats. It calls for an approach to
2 Bastin, Finegold, Garcia, Mollicone, Rezende, Routh, Zohner and Crowther (2019) The Global Tree Restoration Potential, published in Science
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Our strategic themes
To help realise our Local Plan vision and other environmental or place-making goals, the GI Plan maintains a clear focus on strategic themes, which can be summarised under four headings:
ECONOMY Promoting economic prosperity by creating conditions for business growth and recognising the value of ‘Quality of Place’ in development.
LIFE CHANCES AND CHOICES Creating sustainable communities, where all members are able to contribute and where all the infrastructure required to support the community is provided.
ENVIRONMENT Protecting and enhancing the quality of the built and natural environment.
CONNECTIVITY AND MOVEMENT Reducing the need to travel, managing car use and promoting more sustainable modes of transport and improving the road network and enhancing wildlife corridors.
These strategic themes are used to guide the GI analysis and planning, highlighting areas where investment in GI can bring multiple benefits and/or transformative change.
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3 SETTING THE SCENE people employed in agriculture and related industry. In terms of other large employment sectors, employment in the ‘knowledge Cheshire East is a predominantly rural area covering economy’ drives the region4. The proximity of the borough to approximately 1,100 sq km with a population of 372,100. A Manchester Airport provides access to international markets and number of strategic transport corridors cross the borough provides jobs, contributing to substantial economic benefits. including the M6, M56 and the West Coast main line railway network. The Cheshire and Warrington LEP Quality of Place report indicated that quality of place is an important driver for business The towns of Crewe and Macclesfield form the primary urban investment. With 36,000 additional homes5 planned in the areas in the borough. Crewe, situated in the south west of the borough by 2040, and 56,000 more people predicted to be living borough is the larger of the two towns and forms a significant in Cheshire East, maintaining and enhancing the quality of railway interchange in the north-west. Macclesfield lies on the environments across the area can bring a competitive advantage. River Bollin, in the north east of the borough. It is close to the There are some exemplar business parks and employment sites border of the Peak District to the east and Greater Manchester to in Cheshire East set in high quality GI including Alderley Park, the north. Jodrell Bank, Radbrooke Hall and Booths Park (both near Knutsford). With its strategic position in between Greater Manchester and Stoke on Trent, and good communication links, the borough has The visitor economy is an important contributor to the Cheshire many growth opportunities and pressures. East economy. There are many green and blue infrastructure assets such as the Peak District National Park and the extensive The landscape of Cheshire East is characterised by the contrast canal network, while green infrastructure (GI) provides an between the lowland rural landscape with the distinctive important setting to Jodrell Bank and other rural attractions. There sandstone ridge to the west and the rising Pennine foothills in the are 14 National Trust properties in Cheshire East providing high east. The varied geology, land use and strong industrial heritage quality visitor attractions comprising a range of green and blue of the borough have resulted in distinctive physical landscapes. infrastructure types. These include Tatton Park (managed by Cheshire East Council), the southern part of Dunham Massey Economy Estate, Lyme Park, Quarry Bank Mill, Alderley Edge, Hare Hill, the Cloud, Bickerton and Bulkeley Hills, Little Moreton Hall, Nether Cheshire East is home to a diverse and vibrant economy, Alderley Mill and a number of smaller National Trust sites. providing 7% of the economic output in the North West3. The rural nature of the borough is reflected in the relatively high number of
3 Regional GVA (Income Approach), Office for National Statistics December 4 Annual Population Survey, October 2012-2013, ONS, NOMIS 2013 5 Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy 2010-2030 (Adopted 2017)
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Cheshire East has good numbers of people engaging in regular Life chances and choices active exercise8. However, this is not uniform across Cheshire East and there are areas that need more focused attention, to The Borough is generally considered as an affluent area, though facilitate or encourage more people to get outdoors easily. there are significant differences in income levels. Seven towns have a mean income below the Cheshire East average; Alsager, The borough is also preparing for an ageing population, with the Congleton, Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach in the south and number of people aged 65 and over expected to increase by more Handforth and Macclesfield in the north. In contrast, high incomes than 50% by 2029. Enabling older residents to maintain healthy are prevalent in the north of the borough; Knutsford, Poynton and and active lifestyles is a key part of planning for GI. Wilmslow are all above the Cheshire East average6. Environment The population is concentrated in the borough’s two principal towns and nine key service centres. The health and wellbeing of 93% of Cheshire East is GI, 74% of which is agricultural land. The the residents of Cheshire East is generally good though there are Best and Most Versatile Land Report (2016) found that 47% of some stark contrasts7. There is a concentration of health agricultural land across Cheshire East was Best and Most deprivation in Crewe, with particularly high levels of obesity and Versatile Land (BMV), which is regarded as a national asset. It is other illness in comparison to the rest of the borough and therefore important that planning for GI at the strategic level has a England. Pockets of health deprivation exist elsewhere, such as in focus on the role of agricultural land in delivering services and areas of Middlewich and Macclesfield, showing a trend of poorer benefits. health in urban areas. Farmers and land owners already play a key role in safeguarding Despite the high levels of health and wellbeing across the the environment across Cheshire East. At a wider scale, in borough as a whole, there is opportunity to support more people September 2019, the National Farmers Union unveiled its vision to have healthy and active lifestyles and resolve the issue of for British Farming to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions health inequality. GI provides an opportunity to encourage social by 20409, with three pillars of activity: interaction between residents of all ages, which is likely to become increasingly important as the population of Cheshire East Improving farming’s productive efficiency rises. Improving land management and changing land use to capture more carbon Boosting renewable energy and the wider bio-economy.
6 Cheshire East 2010 Paycheck Data 7 Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy for the Population of Cheshire East 8 Sport England Active Lives Survey (2018) (2018-2021) 9 National Farmers Union (2019) Achieving Net Zero: Farming’s 2040 Goal
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Across Cheshire East where farming is a key sector, it is possible the Peak Forest Canal. The Cheshire Ring Canal Walk follows the to work towards these aims, through activities such as increasing towpaths of the Macclesfield and Trent and Mersey Canals, as the ability of farmers to capture more carbon through woodlands, well as part of the Llangollen Canal towpath, providing trees and hedgerows and conserving existing carbon stores in connections to many historic town centres. The Shropshire Union soils, grassland and pasture. Canal Middlewich Branch towpaths are also public rights of way. The Macclesfield Canal runs through Congleton and Macclesfield There are many types of GI across the borough including parks, and the Trent and Mersey Canal runs from Alsager to Middlewich. private gardens, woodland and water bodies, although agricultural land dominates the borough. There are approximately 10,000ha The mosses and meres in Cheshire East are an important part of of tree canopy in Cheshire East, including woodland and street the natural water management system of the borough and have trees. Tree canopy cover in the north of the borough is very high ecological value. This chain of bogs, marsh and fen significantly more substantial than in the south. Existing woodland wetlands of international importance, spill out from Cheshire into is also under threat from pests and diseases, including ash Shropshire, Staffordshire and parts of north Wales. Much of dieback which is likely to result in significant loss of hedgerow and Cheshire's most important wildlife is associated with its meres and roadside trees over the next decade. mosses. Peatlands in the Peak District are also of great significance and along with the mosses are essential for carbon With woodland cover at only 7%, Cheshire East is less well- capture. wooded than England which has 10% cover. To attain the English average, a further 3,500 hectares of new woodland would need to Flood risk and poor water quality are issues faced by some parts be planted. Over a 50 year timeframe, that is 70 hectares a year of the borough. Enhancing flood zone habitat diversity and or the equivalent of 110 football pitches! creating on-line and off-line wetlands can help reduce flood risk, along with other “natural flood management” techniques such as Cheshire East is home to an extensive network of waterways and leaky dams and river-restoration schemes which reengage rivers six main rivers; River Dane, River Bollin, River Dean, River Croco, with floodplains. In general, these schemes are highly effective in River Weaver and the River Wheelock. The borough lies largely smaller upper catchments and are included in approaches being within the Weaver-Gowy and Upper Mersey catchments, which developed by the South west Peak Landscape Scale Partnership. incorporate many Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Several waterbodies have been identified by the Environment Agency as having bad and poor ecological quality including the The borough also boasts a significant canal network which is Croco, Wheelock and parts of the River Dane. The Weaver and enjoyed by visitors, anglers, walkers and cyclists for their historic Bollin rivers have poor ecological quality. This bad or poor interest and canal side scenery. Six waterways pass through ecological quality is due principally to diffuse source pollution and Cheshire East including the Macclesfield Canal; the Trent and siltation from agriculture and urban land uses, exacerbated by Mersey Canal; the Shropshire Union Canal; the Middlewich local barriers to fish passage caused by weirs and culverts. Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal; the Llangollen Canal; and Restoration of heavily modified waterbodies and changes to land
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management to reduce sediment run-off can help to improve Connectivity and movement water quality and ecology in line with Water Framework Directive objectives. In rural areas, this would involve measures to Existing major road and rail infrastructure has resulted in “roughen” the landscape by removing watercourses from culvert, fragmentation of access between towns and rural areas, creation of hedges, retaining uncultivated field margins and un- particularly in the south of the borough, affected by the M6, the grazed buffer strips and enhanced riparian habitat. In urban A500, other major roads and the West Coast main line. areas, reduction of sealed surfaces through tree-planting, swales, urban greening and even green roofs will slow overland flows. With plans for HS2 and other transport infrastructure comes an Natural buffer zones should be retained between watercourses opportunity through mitigation to increase GI provision along and urban development, with an undeveloped buffer zone of eight these arterial routes, HS2 brings anticipated growth around Crewe metres in proximity of a main river. and the southern part of the borough. The restructuring of the infrastructure network and the new development areas should Cheshire East has defined its ecological network, based on “core also aim to stimulate improvements in non-car access to parks, areas” for biodiversity which encompass designated sites and greenspaces, employment areas and the countryside. surrounding habitats. In terms of designated sites there are nine Ramsar sites - wetlands of international importance, 33 Sites of The comprehensive and connected nature of GI can contribute to Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - covering almost two per cent of extending walking and cycling, providing attractive routes, the total land area, over 400 Local Wildlife Sites, 23 Regional reducing car dependency and congestion and ameliorating carbon Important Geological Sites and numerous statutory and non- emissions. statutory nature reserves. The network also has “corridors and stepping stones” and “restoration areas” which require better Cheshire East has a good network of public rights of way (PRoW), quantity and quality of habitats to sustain populations and canal towpaths and cycle trails and quiet country lanes, but movement of protected and priority species. The Cheshire Wildlife continued investment in maintenance, signage, road-traffic Trust has mapped detailed wildlife corridors for approximately 25 calming and connections across infrastructure and rivers will be Neighbourhood Planning areas in Cheshire East10. essential to maximise the opportunities for residents to get outdoors easily. This is promoted by Cheshire East’s Rights of Development and climate change challenge the viability of many Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP 2011-2026). Stakeholder species, notably invertebrates and amphibians which are consultation and the ROWIP have highlighted that the bridleway important for agriculture and biodiversity. A more resilient and network, which can be used by walkers, horse riders and cyclists, diverse ecological network will help such species adapt to such is not as well developed in coverage as the footpath network. challenges. Many of the borough’s places of interest are GI assets in rural locations, (for example the 14 National Trust properties, 10 https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/planning/neighbourhood- Macclesfield Forest, the Sandstone Ridge, or the Peak District plans/completed-neighbourhood-plans.aspx and its fringes), so consideration of access, including by car, will
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remain an essential part of ensuring that residents can enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of good connections with large natural spaces.
Connectivity must also consider how habitats are connected. Wildlife corridors and natural links are critical for the maintenance of ecological processes including allowing for the movement of animals and the continuation of viable populations.
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4 MAPPING AND EVIDENCE
The GI typology mapping from the GI Assessment (2018)11 shows the extent and distribution of different types of green and blue infrastructure. Agricultural land comprises 74% of GI in the borough, with woodland at 7.5%, private domestic gardens at 5.8% and grassland, heathland, moorland and scrubland at 4.6%. Types of GI include:
11 Green Infrastructure Assessment of Cheshire East (2018) prepared by the Mersey Forest Team for Cheshire East Council
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Figure 1: GI Typology Map for Cheshire East
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Multifunctionality As a general principle, increasing functionality of GI is desirable because a multifunctional asset is likely to have more users, be Using GIS software, multifunctionality of GI has been mapped more resilient to environmental changes and be regarded as a across Cheshire East. The approach is factual, objective, and community or economic asset. However, some functionalities are quantitative using nationally recognised criteria applicable to not always compatible where, for example, increasing access for Cheshire East. There is potential for a GI asset to deliver up to 28 people may not be desirable in sensitive wildlife sites or where functions, such as recreation, shading from the sun, habitat for tree planting might destroy a sensitive area of mossland. Such wildlife, storm water interception and mental wellbeing. sensitivities must therefore be considered throughout GI planning.
The multifunctionality plan is a ‘heat’ map providing a useful Given the multifunctionality of Cheshire East’s landscape, visible indication as to where the most multifunctional GI is located. on the map, it is assumed that this has been a strong driver for the relatively high levels of participation in recreational exercise GI in the north of the borough delivers more functions than in the and a great diversity of volunteers and neighbourhood groups south. There are many reasons for this, not least the more varied who engage in the local environment. topography, the more fine grained mix of land uses, greater woodland cover, multiple heritage assets and good connectivity Through the GIS analysis it is possible to focus in on specific between towns and surrounding countryside. locations in order to inform decision making. For example, the multifunctionality plans for Macclesfield and Crewe (see Part B) GI in the south of the borough is generally less functional, partly reveal areas of high and low functions together with locations because there is lower density of trees, woodlands, watercourses where GI is absent. In both examples the town centres and and heritage assets and partly because there is less connectivity employment areas demonstrate a relative absence of GI and between towns and countryside. residential properties with private domestic gardens delivering a more limited number of functions. In general terms, analysis12 shows that woodland delivers the most functions, with agricultural land and private domestic gardens delivering relatively few. Through appropriate land management there are usually opportunities to increase the functionality of most types of GI, for example by improving public access, by planting trees, or by diversifying habitats.
12 Cheshire East GI Plan (2019), GIS analysis
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Figure 2: Cheshire East GI Functionality Map
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Quality of Green Infrastructure standards including the proportion of people who regularly engage in outdoor exercise and the proportion of volunteers involved in The multifunctionality maps show that high functionality is often such spaces. associated with high environmental quality, for example the high functionality of areas such as the Peak District fringes, Tatton In respect of the recreation and health-related functions of GI, site Park, the Bollin Valley and the Sandstone Ridge. based assessment could follow the Green Flag criteria to establish how welcoming a space is for people in terms of visual However, low GI functionality does not necessarily mean that land appearance, standards of maintenance and ease of access. is of low value or quality. Some GI assets may inherently be capable of delivering only a limited number of functions, and yet In respect of biodiversity functions, site based quality assessment may be very important to local need and be of significant natural could follow the Defra criteria used for Biodiversity Net Gain and capital value. for farm environment planning i.e. habitat condition, habitat distinctiveness, connectivity and whether designated sites are A highly-functioning environment is more likely to be widely under active management. valued and hence well-managed, but site-based quality assessment would still be required to assess whether particular In respect of water and air quality functions of GI, there is good sites are managed as well as they could be, bearing in mind local evidence about where there are ongoing quality failures. , For needs. example, the Environment Agency’s assessment of Cheshire’s rivers and lakes against Water Framework Directive (WFD) Quality, and its relationship with delivering GI benefits, needs to targets shows which waterbodies are failing to achieve their water be addressed at all stages, including design, planning conditions, environment objectives and there are established techniques for delivery and long-term management. Even well designed GI will assessing land condition and management issues which not deliver the full range of benefits unless its long-term contribute to failure of these waterbodies against WFD objectives. management is fully addressed from the outset. It is beyond the scope of this Plan to carry out a borough-wide There are various quality assessment techniques and quality assessment for GI and identify specific quality targets or benchmarks applicable to GI, but as yet, there are no nationally current shortfalls. Nevertheless, stakeholder consultation has adopted GI quality standards at present. identified projects which tackle known GI quality deficiencies. Natural England is developing national GI standards which will In respect of GI provision and usage, a quality assessment can include quality measures. Once published, these could be include benchmarking against England-wide data, particularly if adopted for use in development planning, alongside other quality- this is available for local authority areas with similar character. oriented measures such as the Cheshire East Design Guide. Provision and usage measures might include the proportion of the population which falls short of accessible natural greenspace
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The commitment by the LEP in its Quality of Place Strategy to identify assets and ‘’pinch points’’, which help set GI investment develop a Natural Capital Plan for the sub-region offers another priorities. opportunity to develop measurable approaches to identifying the value of GI. That will offer another aspect of identifying the The concept of assets and pinch points was set out in the Green qualities and benefits inherent in GI and guiding future priorities. Infrastructure Assessment of Cheshire East14 and is illustrated in the matrix diagram. Assets are found where socio-economic or These approaches and standards, along with schemes such as environmental needs and GI functioning overlap, whereas pinch the ‘Building with Nature Benchmark’13, make it easier for those points occur where needs are inadequately met by the existing GI. charged with designing, delivering and maintaining GI to deliver An area may be an asset or a pinch point in relation to single or the quality and benefits sought for the long term. multiple issues; and investment is highest priority where there are multiple issues at play i.e. where a GI activity area can deliver Setting Priorities for Investment in Green Infrastructure multiple public benefits and draw in funding and collaborations from multiple sources. The aim of the Plan is to set out how and where investment in GI will support strategic themes that help articulate some of the Investment in existing assets is important to safeguard and benefits that can be accrued from good GI. This is described in a enhance their functioning and their quality in the face of key diagram that draws together the evidence derived from population increase, climate change and other pressures. For examining each of the four themes in turn: example, the Bollin and Dean valleys, and the nearby registered parks and gardens, many owned by the National Trust, form a Economy landscape-scale asset which already delivers numerous GI Life chances and choices functions that meet local and wider needs for the benefits that GI Environment brings. Connectivity and movement Enhancing the accessibility of these landscapes, whilst protecting Appendix A provides evidence about priority areas for investment their biodiversity and resilience to climate change, will help ensure in GI for each of the above themes and, crucially, where their continued value. This will support Cheshire East’s quality of investment will help to deliver improvements. place, economy, environment and the life chances and choices of its residents. The prioritisation process, articulated at Appendix A, uses objective spatial analysis, informed by stakeholder consultation, to Investment in GI at pinch points is needed because otherwise growth could be unsustainable or peoples’ life chances and choices would continue to be unnecessarily constrained.
13 www.buildingwithnature.org.uk 14 Green Infrastructure Assessment of Cheshire East (2018 CEC/Mersey Forest)
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Pinch points are typically found where existing environmental is a priority to tackle multiple needs and to ensure future growth conditions are poor and/or where significant economic growth is and development is implemented so it addresses existing anticipated. For example, some of the inner urban areas of environmental deficiencies and uplifts quality of place. The GIS Macclesfield and Crewe have high business densities or relatively analysis at Appendix A allows detailed targeting of particular GI deprived communities in areas where GI is absent and/or low- activity areas to specific neighbourhoods or areas of functioning. environmental deficit or to areas that will experience major development. Investment to create and enhance GI is necessary to uplift quality of place and value, to enhance public health and physical and Particular benefit will arise when GI activity areas are combined to mental health wellbeing, bringing long-term benefits to people and tackle multiple issues and draw together partnerships across business and to contribute to the climate agenda. several sections of the local community.
The spatial analysis in Appendix A is borough-wide and cannot Urban pinch point clusters are found in and around the principal fully capture local nuances and priorities. Thus when a GI towns of Macclesfield and Crewe and several key service centres. investment is being made, local knowledge will be important in Rural pinch points are found in some river systems characterised project design to optimise the response to local needs and by water quality problems, low tree cover, relatively poor public opportunities. access and threats of fragmentation from development and infrastructure. The HS2 corridor is also considered as a ‘’pinch The prioritisation techniques (detailed at Appendix A) can also be point’’, since it will affect environmental quality and cause applied at a local level to identify GI projects which may be severance but also requires good GI provision to ensure it important in particular areas. delivers sustainable development and to ensure that its surrounding environment is resilient to future climate change Key diagram pressures which might threaten the infrastructure itself.
Cheshire East’s strategic GI investment priorities are brought In terms of Manchester Airport any GI proposals will need to take together and articulated on a key diagram (see page 28). This account of the 13km safeguarded zone around the facility. The captures the following: Airport is able to advise which habitat types are appropriate within that zone. Clusters of pinch points Assets and the linkages between them and population centres Some areas have many ‘’pinch points’’. Some are economic, some related to life chances and choices, some are The Peak District National Park, the National Trust properties, the environmental and some are related to connectivity and canal network, major town and country parks and trails are GI movement. Each ‘’pinch point’’ has a reference number and is assets of borough-wide importance. Their safeguarding and considered in more detail in Part B (from page 32). GI investment enhancement in the face of climate change and population growth
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is important, as is the need to improve linkages between them Increasing tree and woodland cover towards the and nearby population centres. Where development and national average. Any proposed tree planting requires subsequent population rise increases the usage of assets and being responsive to the needs identified in the GI Plan and their linkages, such as canal towpaths, enhancement is needed to not conflict with other habitat priorities such as species- make sure they are suitable and welcoming assets. rich grassland, heathland or the meres and mosses. Enhancing the whole ecological network. The Cheshire Landscape and ecological networks East Ecological Network15 promotes the preservation, restoration and recreation of priority habitats and networks Some river valleys, catchments and landscape tracts are through five main components: core areas, corridors and particularly multifunctional and are key parts of the Cheshire stepping stones, restoration, buffer zones and sustainable Ecological Network, so sensitive land management is critical. For land use areas. Appropriately managed and created GI will example, the meres and mosses catchment buffer zones are help to underpin the ecological network. drainage basins which affect the ecological quality and carbon- Encouraging soil conservation and carbon- storage ability of the cluster of Cheshire’s meres and mosses. sequestration by avoiding deep ploughing, reducing tillage, cover cropping and providing buffer strips next to Some are also linked to urban ‘’pinch points’’ in respect of life watercourses. chances and choices and can therefore play an important role in Developing planning policy and standards for high improving quality of life. Examples are the Bollin and Dean quality GI. The GI Plan identifies areas of need and a Valleys, the Peak District fringe, the Dane Valley and the number of projects which will enable the Council to draft Sandstone Ridge. and adopt effective criteria based policies or supplementary guidance to complement existing plans and General priorities strategies. The NPPF currently requires compensatory improvements to GI when areas of land are removed from Not all GI priorities can be visually represented through a key green belt (this covered in more detail in Part B). diagram. The following are generic priorities that will in some Supporting farmers and landowners to respond to cases be addressed through individual areas of activity shown on change. This evidence base and framework can assist the key diagram. Their priorities include: landowners to adapt to policy, market and climate change. For example there is potential for a policy shift towards Increasing public engagement with the outdoors new Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) through exercise, recreation and education. Cheshire which is intended to provide ‘public money for public East Council’s Ranger Services, Everybody Sport and goods’. Recreation, the Canal & River Trust and the National Trust are among those active in public engagement. This will need to be sustained in the future and beresponsive to the 15 predicted growth in population. Cheshire East Ecological Network (2016)
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Another priority that cannot be mapped and is not fully addressed by this Plan is the quality of on-going management. Whether existing, enhanced or newly created GI, to be effective in delivering potential GI benefits, the resource must be managed appropriately over the short, medium and long terms. This implies that effective planning policies must be in place to ensure this requirement is effectively and robustly addressed for new developments. It also requires effective management planning, delivery mechanisms and funding to ensure that the existing resource or original investment in new infrastructure realises the intended benefits
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Figure 3: Key Diagram
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5 GI Activity tranquil enjoyment of watercourses and waterways. Maximising opportunities for access and enjoyment, and The GI Plan has been arranged into nine GI activities, each of protecting the structural integrity of canals. which is aligned with particular interest groups. Thriving nature – creating and safeguarding well- For example, urban greening projects will generally be planned, connected networks of habitats across urban and rural designed and implemented by planners, developers, town centre landscapes and continuously delivering biodiversity net managers, housing providers, town councils and civic society gain through development and land management. groups. River, waterway and valleys projects will be delivered by the Council, countryside management partnerships, river Working alongside major infrastructure – integrating GI catchment partnerships, landowners, developers, the into major new infrastructure projects and retrofitting GI Environment Agency and the Canal & River Trust, also working alongside existing infrastructure, especially where this has alongside local trusts and volunteers. historically fragmented accessibility or ecological networks. It is important to note that certain groups would align with more than one activity, due to the multifunctional nature of GI assets. A distinctive place for culture, heritage and tourism - For example, the Canal & River Trust would align with most of the enhancing the setting of and access to heritage, below activities as canals are potential ecological corridors, landscape and outdoor recreational assets. conservation areas with many listed structures whilst providing attractive and accessible settings for businesses and Environments for business – creating an attractive and opportunities for environmental enhancements and active travel accessible setting for centres of employment and routes. economic activity, both in towns and the countryside.
Urban greening – creating and maintaining vibrant, Farmland and soils – enabling land management which healthy and inspiring places where people want to live and conserves and restores soil productivity and improves work. carbon sequestration.
Getting outdoors easily - engaging people and improving A ninth GI activity is also required to stimulate a step-change in community access to, and enjoyment of, GI for health and the delivery of the above eight activities: wellbeing. Stepping up investment – creating a diverse stream of Rivers and valleys – restoring river systems and investors and funding mechanisms for GI projects. waterways to their near natural conditions as possible and implementing catchment-wide activity to improve water quality, natural flood management, re-naturalisation and
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These GI activities relate to the four strategic themes, as shown in the graphic overleaf. On the ground implementation will be through GI measures i.e. capital and revenue projects.
Part B of the Plan discusses which GI activities are most appropriate for the investment priorities.
Part C of the Plan considers how delivery of the Plan, including funding, can be stepped up from the existing levels.
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Themes Activities Measures 1. Civic and street tree planting 2. Urban and community food-growing initiatives Urban Greening 3. Pocket parks and greening the public realm Economy 4. Multi-functional landscape and public realm design in new development Getting Outdoors Easily 5. Wildlife-friendly gardening 6. Weather-proofing parks 7. Rain gardens, swales and SuDS 8. Pollinator-friendly verges and urban meadows Rivers and Valleys 9. Forest schools 10. Restoration of soil carbon in Life Chances and Choices peatlands, meres and mosses 11. Catchment-sensitive farming Thriving Nature 12. Natural flood management 13. River restoration and re- naturalisation of watercourses 14. Country park provision and Working alongside major management 15. Outdoor exercise and fitness groups infrastructure 16. Nature on prescription Environment 17. Community woodlands 18. Farm environment plans A distinctive place for culture, heritage 19. Multi-user & fully-accessible rights of
and tourism way and canal towpaths in urban and fringes 20. A Forest for Cheshire (part of the Northern Forest) Environments for Business
Connectivity and
Movement Farmland and Soils
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Part B: The Plan example due to public rights of way and other access routes being constrained or fragmented by infrastructure or difficult topography. This part of the Plan focuses on the “where” and the “how” aspects of safeguarding, managing and enhancing Cheshire There is an over-arching general vulnerability across Cheshire East’s GI. East to climate change pressures, arising from relatively low tree canopy, the preponderance of soils where carbon-storage is not For each investment priority area, the key issues are summarised actively promoted and pressures on the ecological network arising from asset and pinch point analysis detailed at Appendix A. The from fragmentation and hydrological change associated with most appropriate GI activities are then described. It must be warmer and more extreme weather patterns. appreciated that the summary and recommendations are of necessity brief, and that local consultation, detailed analysis and A set of landscape-scale projects have been identified, each of project design is essential before moving to implementation. which addresses multiple priorities. Delivery of these projects will require collaboration with many landowners and a step-change in This section starts with “landscape-scale” projects in urban fringe funding for enhancements to the rural environment. However, and rural areas followed by urban projects in the principal towns stakeholder consultation has identified considerable appetite for and key service centres, as defined in the Cheshire East Local progress and prospects for drawing in new sources of investment Plan. from biodiversity and carbon offsetting and co-investment in catchment-scale water quality improvements.
Landscape Scale Projects Peak District National Park and Peak Fringe Management and enhancement of GI in urban fringes, river and lake catchments and rural landscapes is important to Cheshire The Peak District National Park comprises an upland area at the East’s overall quality of place and environmental resilience. southern end of the Pennines, and intersects with the north eastern section of Cheshire East. The National Park Appendix A demonstrates that many of the borough’s most encompasses areas such as Kettleshulme and Rainow in the important GI assets are in urban fringes and along river valleys. north and Wildboarclough and Danebridge in the south. The South West Peak encompasses the part of the National Park that Environmental ‘’pinch points’’ relate to catchments with low quality falls within Cheshire East. This section of the Peak District is a water environments, rivers where flood risk is heightened, and diverse upland landscape, with large areas of moorland and fragmentation of the ecological network by infrastructure. blanket bog and wide-ranging areas of farmland. The rivers Bollin, Dane and Dean all have their sources in the South West Peak. Connectivity pinch points primarily relate to urban fringes where there is relatively poor access from towns to major GI assets, for West of the National Park, the Peak Fringe comprises the eastern edges of the urban areas of Macclesfield and Congleton, where
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the farming is generally more intensive. Nevertheless, the Peak Across the Peak District the moorlands are undergoing significant Fringe is a transitional landscape and is a Local Landscape programmes of restoration through the Moors for the Future Designation Area as identified in the Local Plan. The Peak Fringe Partnership, for multiple benefits including carbon capture and shares many of the special qualities associated with the National storage and rewetting. The objectives of the partnership focus on Park and forms a buffer between the urban areas of Macclesfield raising awareness of the value of the moors to encourage and Congleton and the National Park. responsible use, to protect and conserve the important moorland habitats and developing expertise around sustainable The South West Peak and Peak Fringe have a strong sense of management. place formed by the contrast between the upland landscape of the South West Peak and the lowlands of the Cheshire plain to the The Peak District National Park authority’s Recreation Strategy west. The South West Peak Landscape Partnership is a group of ‘Active in the Outdoors 2010-2020,’ identifies Macclesfield as a organisations working to restore, protect and improve the ‘Gateway Town,’ a settlement on the periphery of the National landscape. The Partnership has been awarded funding from the Park which can channel visitors or contain local populations who Heritage Lottery Project and is working towards maintaining and use the National Park as their local green space. building the relationship between people and the landscape and restoring key habitats. A range of GI assets also lie within the Peak Fringe, many relating to the connectivity and movement strategic theme. The 16km The South West Peak has a range of existing GI assets. It is traffic-free Middlewood Way stretches from Macclesfield to important for recreation and tourism due to the extensive open Marple, following the length of the former Macclesfield, Bollington access areas, dense network of footpaths (connectivity and and Marple Railway (connectivity and movement). The movement theme), wide-ranging views and a sense of tranquillity. Middlewood Way is managed by the Countryside Ranger Service Outdoor recreation in this area is also centred on honeypot sites and volunteers. From Higher Poynton, footpaths link the route to including National Trust’s Lyme Park (economy and environment Lyme Park and Lyme Hall, and there are numerous footpaths themes) and Tegg’s Nose Country Park, as well as the Gritstone linking the Middlewood Way with the Peak District foothills in the Trail (connectivity and movement theme). The car park at east. The Middlewood Way is a significant biodiversity asset. Wildboarclough forms part of a network of small car parks created by the National Park Authority’s programme to improve access Macclesfield Forest, close to Macclesfield, Langley and opportunities. This range of opportunities for leisure and Wildboarclough villages, is partly in the South West Peak and is a recreational pursuits in turn has social and economic benefits to significant GI asset in this priority area. The forest is owned by the surrounding local areas (economy theme). The Peak District United Utilities and is home to four reservoirs which provide Biodiversity Action Plan (2011-2020) outlines actions and important drinking water resources for Macclesfield and the wider opportunities for the South West Peak including small scale area. The forest is also significant for recreation and biodiversity. projects, focusing on moorland fringes and enhancing woodlands. There are connectivity and movement pinch points in the South West Peak involving the sustainable management of access so
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that visitor and recreational activities retain a sense of tranquillity, Improvements to the Gritstone Trail fall are being delivered under which is a valued asset, whilst biodiversity continues to be the Twin Trails project, the vision of which recognises the role that managed and protected. high quality recreational routes can play in delivering rural visitor economy and health and wellbeing benefits. Future projects Much of the highest land in the upland part of the South West should ensure well-maintained and enhanced connectivity from Peak is covered by deposits of blanket peat. Blanket bogs play a settlements onto the Gritstone Trail to enable local connectivity vital role in tackling climate change by absorbing carbon from the and long distance walking. atmosphere and storing it in peat. This GI asset requires effective long-term management to sustain and rebuild its carbon stores in Future projects should follow the recommendations for enhanced the face of a warming climate and recreational pressures. provision for recreation and access, set out in the Peak District National Park Authority’s Recreation Strategy ‘Active in the Development pressures in the Peak Fringe and South West Peak Outdoors 2010-2020.’ For example the Rights of Way lie mainly within or on the fringes of settlements including Improvement Plans for the National Park and adjacent areas Bollington and Macclesfield (ref: 10E). Environmental pinch points recognise that the bridleway network is generally more include mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change fragmented than the public right of way (PRoW) network available which will alter the special qualities of the South West Peak and for walkers. Future projects within this landscape priority area the continued management of species-rich moorland and could work to create a more integrated network of routes suitable grassland. for a range of users, providing cycling and walking connections between the South West Peak and urban areas in the Peak Drawing on the existing assets and pinch points across this Fringe, such as Macclesfield and Congleton. landscape scale priority area, a GI Plan can be grouped into the following broad programme activities: Within the ‘gateway town’ of Macclesfield, future projects could Getting Outdoors Easily encourage appropriate facilities and information to enable people Thriving Nature to sustainably access the nearby National Park. There is currently A Distinctive Place for Culture, Heritage and Tourism a limited PRoW network to the east of Macclesfield, representing Farmland and Soils an opportunity for improvement in the Peak Fringe area.
Getting Outdoors Easily The National Park Authority is currently reviewing its approach to sustainable transport, looking to promote non-car borne trips while The South West Peak Partnership, utilising a Heritage Lottery continuing to work closely with its partners to promote the roll out Fund grant, is working to deliver 18 individual projects, working of cycling infrastructure following the National Park Cycling with the local community to build stronger connections with the Strategy. Key pinch points are identified within this Plan where landscape to encourage stewardship. improvements could address ‘getting outdoors easily’, such as addressing the limited sustainable transport links to the east of Macclesfield. It is recognised that promoting linkage to the wider
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National Park offers opportunities to maximise the potential health With changes in agricultural practice, key landscape features benefits of assets on our doorstep. associated with the historical agricultural land use have fallen into disrepair. In line with the strategy of the LCAP for the South West Identifying hubs for active recreation across the landscape area, Peak which includes the protection and management of the such as Macclesfield Forest can help ensure that investment is distinctive historic character of landscapes, future work in the targeted at the most appropriate places. Further development of South West Peak should hope to identify, promote and protect hubs for active recreation can increase peoples’ understanding fading heritage features such as barn buildings reflecting the and enjoyment of the landscape. The National Park Authority is cultural importance of the farming heritage in the area. seeking to refresh its partnership approach to the area and visitor management around Macclesfield Forest, representing an The Peak District Sustainable Tourism Strategy endorses an important opportunity for stakeholder involvement where approach of increasing the economic value of tourism in the Peak appropriate. District by focusing on overnight stays rather than day visits.
Farmland and Soils The Peak Forest Canal runs through Cheshire East for a 3km stretch passing to the north of Disley, running through the Where farming is more intensive on the fringes of Macclesfield landscape to the edge of the Peak District and forming part of the and Congleton, positive engagement with farmers and land Cheshire Ring. The canal towpath represents an opportunity to managers will be important in delivering landscape benefits. encourage active recreation and travel routes given its links to the Macclesfield Canal passing through both urban and more rural As blanket bogs in poor condition release more carbon than they areas. absorb, the revegetation and long-term management of peatlands across the South West Peak is vital. Future projects or investment Thriving Nature should work alongside the existing ‘Moors for the Future partnership’ which has to date transformed over 32 sq km of An Ecosystem Approach forms a key principle of the South West degraded peat. Peak Landscape Conservation Area Action Plan (LCAP). Creating resilient landscapes which support fully functioning ecosystems will require a collaborative approach. Bollin Riverlands
One of the largest blocks of woodland in the area are the This landscape area consists of the Bollin and Upper Goyt extensive plantations around the Macclesfield Forest. This Local catchments as well as the Sinderland Brook in Trafford, including Wildlife Site (LWS) should be safeguarded and enhanced, for tributaries such as the River Dean and the Birkin Brook. It is a both nature conservation as well as recreational opportunities. programme of work led by a partnership with the National Trust and the Environment Agency; it covers groundwater, rivers and A Distinctive Place for Culture, Heritage and Tourism the land that drains into them, and related species and habitats. It
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includes the arc of historic properties and registered parks and maintaining GI multifunctionality, environmental resilience and gardens that run from Dunham Massey, Tatton Park and Arley quality of place. Hall in the west, through Alderley Edge to Lyme Park in the east. It encompasses the urban areas of Knutsford, Wilmslow, The priority area also has several pinch points across all the Handforth, Poynton and Macclesfield. The purpose is to work with strategic themes. There are several ‘Economy’ and ‘Life Chances partners using an integrated catchment management approach to and Choices’ themed ‘pinch points’ in Wilmslow and Handforth support delivery of more environmentally sustainable (ref. 6E and 4L) and Macclesfield (ref. 7E, 8E and 4E) near to the management of land and water. The aim is to deliver river- Rivers Bollin and Dean. These are discussed later in relation to GI restoration schemes, improvement in land management practices priorities for the principal towns and key service centres. and water quality and associated habitat enhancement and creation, by targeting issues identified within the Water Under the ‘environment’ theme, tackling a bad water environment Framework Directive and which provide ‘natural capital’ and social in the Birkin Brook and Mobberley Brook catchment, which feeds benefit. into the Bollin, is an Environment Agency and United Utilities priority, including measures to reduce point source and diffuse The area has a long and proud history of GI initiatives, notably the source pollution (ref. 14W). There are also flood risk and poor Bollin Valley Partnership, led by Cheshire East Council, BEACON water environment issues affecting the River Dean. (Bollin Environmental Action and Conservation, led by the Mersey Rivers Trust) and the emerging Riverlands project, led by the There are connectivity and movement pinch points at Macclesfield National Trust. in terms of links from the residential areas to the Peak District (ref. 1C) and in terms of ensuring that new development in south west This priority area has numerous GI assets across all the strategic Macclesfield has access to GI (ref. 2C). Existing road themes, notably the National Trust properties (economy, life infrastructure introduces severance of easy east-west movement chances and choices and environment and connectivity and between the arc of historic properties, and this may also be an movement), the numerous urban and country parks (life chances issue in the future arising from implementation of HS2. and choices), several core biodiversity areas including Rostherne Mere SSSI and Tatton Meres (SSSI), both part of the Meres and In response, a GI Plan for Bollin Riverlands can be grouped into Mosses international RAMSAR site, Alderley Edge SSSI five broad activities: (environment) and the Macclesfield Canal (connectivity and movement). The Alderley Edge SSSI is designated for its Getting outdoors easily geological interests, though the beechplantation woodland on the Rivers and valleys site is not in comparable condition to the geological interests on Thriving Nature site, with some woodland in poor condition. A distinctive place for culture, heritage and tourism Farmland and soils Climate change and population growth pressures mean that safeguarding and enhancement of these assets is critical to
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Getting outdoors easily Rivers and Valleys
The Bollin Valley Way (BVW) follows the course of the River The River Bollin is one of the earliest River Valley partnership Bollin from the northern edge of Macclesfield town centre to the approaches in the country to managing GI. The local authorities Manchester Ship Canal, south of Partington. Sections of the BVW and other organisations have experience in delivery of a river have a high level of footfall, usually where the route passes near valley and landscape style approach to area management. to towns such as Macclesfield and Wilmslow. More remote sections appear to be less well used and wayfinding and the The National Trust Riverlands project works at a catchment scale quality of the footpath surface are variable along some of these aiming with the aim of improving water quality and enabling river sections. The quality of road crossings along the BVW is also restoration working alongside natural flood management and variable. Addressing these constraints would enable easier and habitat creation approaches. legible access to the countryside, encourage more people to be active and could relieve pressure on some of the more popular The aim of the rivers and valleys activity area is to restore river parks and open spaces. systems to their best feasible ecological status, while also implementing catchment-wide activity to improve water quality The Middlewood Way and Bollin Valley Way meet at the northern and river ecology, natural flood management and tranquil edge of Macclesfield town centre. These two routes are enjoyment of watercourses and waterways. established and there would be longer term opportunities to form a continuous circuit by the creation of a ‘Dean Valley Way’ The natural flood management approach seeks to re-engage the following the River Dean from the confluence with the River Bollin river with the floodplain and there are specific proposals to do this west of Wilmslow north through Stanneylands and then east with the River Bollin along the northern Cheshire East boundary at towards the Middlewood Way allowing increased access to Dunham Massey and also in a landscape scale area around Handforth Station for residential areas along the route. This Wilmslow including Quarry Bank, the Dean Valley, the Carrs potential ‘Dean Valley Way’ would be particularly accessible for upstream to Wilmslow Weir. Smaller interventions to other residents of Wilmslow, Stanneylands, Handforth and Handforth watercourses in the Bollin catchment include re-profiling of river Garden Village. banks, tree planting, ‘slow the flow’ initiatives and pond and habitat creation. The National Trust is seeking to open its estate to a broader demographic including children and young people so that they The Council assessed the opportunities for land in their ownership can enjoy the GI environment for outdoor play and learning. The along the River Dean corridor to the north western fringes of National Trust is also keen to reach out to adults who would not Wilmslow. The land currently is in agricultural use, has a varied usually visit their estate but might benefit from outdoor recreation topography and includes a network of wooded corridors but has for enjoyment or as part of social prescribing for health and limited public access. Another factor is the low lying agricultural wellbeing. land next to the river which is prone to flooding. The Council’s study concluded that while the primary use of land should remain
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as agriculture it should be managed in a more environmentally and the Trent and Mersey Canal in the west, both followed by the friendly way. Working with farmers and landowners on the lowest Cheshire Ring Canal Walk. Enhancing and improving GI along the ground will be essential to ensure that the natural floodplain can length of the canals in the Bollin Riverlands will have benefits be reintroduced and a riparian habitat for wildlife, whilst spanning a range of priority themes such as enhancing maintaining productivity for farmers. Productive farming and biodiversity and waterside habitats, enhancing character and biodiversity net gain can co-exist by adopting a balanced, co- heritage of the canal network and providing attractive sustainable operative approach which focuses the right actions in the right transport links, For example, the Macclesfield Canal was built in place. 1831 from locally quarried materials and contains 112 Listed Structures along its length16. Using GI to make our heritage Access provision would be enhanced by this section of the assets more attractive, and improve the landscapes in their potential “Dean Valley Way” and a network of permissive routes settings, can preserve their features for years to come. The Canal and opportunities for education and community involvement. is also of primary importance for its role as an interconnected wildlife corridor through what is primarily a developed farming Water quality problems in the Bollin catchment, particularly in landscape. As supported by the Canal and Rivers Trust, soft bank Birkin Brook and Mobberley Brook, impact of development and protection along the length of canals should be prioritised where discharge from Waste Water Treatment Works, could be suitable to the location, to support species such as water voles, addressed to a significant degree through catchment-sensitive and providing breeding habitats for other species. farming, although this would only be effective in reducing sediment and chemical run-off from land into watercourses if it Thriving Nature was delivered at landscape scale, with the majority of landowners engaged. If this could be achieved, the ecosystem benefits would In spatial terms, 62% of the non-agriculture GI in the borough is be wider than just water quality improvements; biodiversity and north of the River Dane, falling within the Bollin Riverlands carbon-storage would also increase. landscape area. The growing demand for housing and associated infrastructure creates pressure on wildlife and biodiversity, with it Given the Bollin Valley’s long history of collaboration on becoming increasingly important to ensure habitats and wildlife environmental projects and the leadership of major organisations corridors remain connected. such as Cheshire East Council, United Utilities, the Environment Agency and the National Trust, there is a potential opportunity for Significant development pressures in the Bollin Riverlands area, a catchment-centred co-investment plan which achieves water including major infrastructure projects already planned such as and ecological quality improvements required by the Environment HS2, upgrade of the M56 present opportunities as well as Agency and United Utilities through incentivising landowners and tenant farmers to engage in catchment-sensitive farming.
As mentioned earlier, waterways fall under the “Rivers and 16 Canal and Rivers Trust (2017) Macclesfield Canal Green Flag Management Valleys” theme. The Bollin Riverlands landscape area is crossed Plan by the canal network including the Macclesfield Canal in the east
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challenges for planning to increase biodiversity, providing well- Riverlands is also proposing a partnership approach to connected habitats and wildlife corridors. interventions along the River Bollin corridor between the Carrs in Wilmslow and Quarry Bank Estate, where there is potential to Low GI cover in Handforth could be combatted through a street improve riparian habitat which will also have wider landscape tree planting programme and urban greening projects (see later scale benefits such as flood plain restoration, filtration and carbon details for Handforth). There are many high functioning areas in storage. terms of biodiversity in the area, with many of the National Trust estates, and sections of the many brooks in the area performing The Thriving Nature activity area must closely accompany the multiple functions beneficial to biodiversity including habitat. Many Rivers and Valleys activity area for the Bollin Riverlands of the high functioning sites are disconnected by infrastructure landscape area, in order to ensure that the River Bollin and its such as the M56; linking these areas through wildlife corridors tributaries are rich in wildlife, healthy and clean. Engagement with would reduce habitat fragmentation, increase food resources and farmers for floodplain restoration, and habitat creation is essential reconnect fragmented and isolated populations. in the Bollin Riverlands to create a wider understanding of diffuse water pollution and improved habitats and the restoration of flood The National Trust’s Tatton Park is home to a rich variety of plains. biodiversity, thriving in the 500 acres of woodland on the site, in its Park grassland and its Meres. There may be potential to A distinctive place for culture, heritage and tourism achieve further parkland restoration would include the restoration on tenanted farmland with the benefit of habitat enhancement for The distinctiveness of the River Bollin valley is captured in the wider GI benefits such as carbon capture, soils, water quality and Cheshire East Landscape Character Assessment17 where it health and wellbeing. Outreach through nature trails and highlights the valued landscape features of the River Valley educational events, building on the existing community landscape character type. These include: the steeply enclosed engagement programme will also increase stewardship in this valley slopes often occupied by dense woodland; the semi-natural area. habitats including wetland grassland and meadow; remnant historic field pattern delineated by hedgerows; the valued location Dunham Massey, in neighbouring Trafford, to the north of Tatton of the river valley for recreation and tranquil refuge from urban Park is subject to development pressures from the north, with areas; funnelled views along valleys with occasional glimpses approximately 11,000 new homes proposed in the area. Cross- towards Pennine uplands and a strong sense of enclosure due to border dialogue with Trafford will be necessary to ensure existing topography and woodland. wildlife corridors are not fragmented, and instead contribute to a thriving network of biodiversity. The Riverlands project is also Beyond the River Valley landscape character type, the landscape developing proposals to re-naturalise sections of the Sinderland is characterised by a broadly undulating landscape containing Brook which to a large degree forms the boundary between NT property and development sites. 17 Cheshire East Landscape Character Assessment (2018), LUC
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focal points of wooded backdrops and locally varied topography. Cheshire East. The cross border link within this opportunity area There are a number of historic estates with undulating land, represents an important opportunity for landscape scale, cross mature trees and distinctive pastoral and parkland character. border management with the neighbouring authority and Northwich population for wider scale benefits. Farmland and soils This landscape scale area suffers poor water quality due to high A partnership led by the National Trust is encouraging farmers in sediment loads and nutrients which are present in fertilisers, Riverlands to consider how their practices impact on water quality manure and domestic sewage (ref: 1E). These pollutants not only and ecology. Farmers are being encouraged to engage in agri- affect water quality, but also impact negatively on local environment schemes and to curtail their livestocks’ access to biodiversity. watercourses through buffer strips and where appropriate fencing. The Smoker Brook’s banks are heavily wooded, comprising the As discussed under “Rivers and Valleys”, this activity area could Smoker Wood, linking to Leonard’s Wood. The Smoker Brook in form the embryo for a catchment-wide approach to soil particular has a declining fish population owing to the poor water conservation and water quality improvement with consequent quality. This contrasts with Tabley Mere which lies west of benefits to biodiversity Smoker Brook, and is designated as a SSSI, nationally recognised for its aquatic biodiversity. Mapping shows a The carbon-storage properties of peatlands, meres and mosses connectivity and movement pinch point around Higher Wincham, are relevant to this priority area, with soil conservation measures where there is less access to public rights of way than the such as reducing tillage, re-wetting and drain-blocking being surrounding area. feasible. In response to the key characteristics of the landscape area, the The potential for some “re-wilding” of areas of relatively marginal GI Plan for the Wade and Smoker Brooks can be grouped under farmland could be explored, particularly if this was aligned to the following activities: biodiversity net gain projects arising from development in the Riverlands project, as it could bring water quality and biodiversity Thriving Nature benefits as well as soil conservation. Rivers and Valleys Farmland and Soils Wade and Smoker Brooks Getting Outdoors Easily
The Core Biodiversity Area is focused around the Wade and Smoker Brooks, both tributaries of the River Weaver. The Wade Thriving Nature runs north east of Northwich and south of Lostock Gralam, within the Cheshire West and Chester Council’s administrative The Wade and Smoker Brook is identified as a Biodiversity boundary. The Smoker Brook runs north west of Plumley, within Opportunity Area, where habitat restoration can be most
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beneficial. Ashton’s and Neumann’s Flashes in Wincham are on There is an opportunity to increase connectivity around the Higher the border with Cheshire West and Chester, so cross border Wincham area to enable the sustainable movement of people dialogue for sustainable use and management is important. The from settlement to countryside. There is noticeable lack of public Flashes form part of the Northwich Woodlands, a reclaimed area rights of way and cycle routes in this area, which could be rectified with an industrial heritage; the unique site allows many species to through working with landowners to provide routes which are thrive. legible and yet take advantage of green and blue spaces such as Tabley Mere, the network of brooks in the landscape area and the Rivers and Valleys Plumley Lime Beds Nature Reserve.
The importance of landscape scale river management is Dane Valley and the Southern Peak Fringe highlighted in this landscape area, in order to reap the benefits both in Cheshire East and Cheshire West. Re-engaging the river The River Dane, a meandering tributary of the River Weaver, with the wider landscape along the Wade and Smoker Brooks and flows from its source in the Peak District, north-west through the their tributaries can provide multiple benefits for biodiversity, southern fringes of the Peak District, through Congleton and close economy and quality of life. to Holmes Chapel, before joining the Weaver near Northwich. The Southern Peak Fringe comprises the town of Congleton as well as For example, where it flows north east of Northwich around smaller settlements such as Bosley, North Road and Oakgrove. Marbury Country Park, the area surrounding Wade Brook has a high probability of flooding. Re-naturalising the wider landscape The Upper Dane extends from Congleton to Holmes Chapel, area comprising the catchments of the Wade and Smoker Brooks meandering through a well defined valley. The valley floor is and reconnecting watercourses to the flood plain can help to devoted to pasture land and much of this section of the river is reduce flood risk and bring water quality and ecological benefits. inaccessible to walkers. Large expanses of linear woodlands follow contours on both sides of the valley; a significant area of Farmlands and Soils the woodland throughout the Dane Valley is ancient woodland.
Poor water quality from farming practices in this landscape area The Lower Dane, from Holmes Chapel to Northwich, is a very can be tackled through landscape scale interventions into farming gently rolling, low-lying landscape. Transport is a key feature of practices and land use including maintaining buffer strips near the river valley, with key crossing points over the River Dane in a watercourses and cover cropping. Wetland conservation and number of places including the M6 to the west of Holmes Chapel restoration around the Flashes for example can contribute to and the A53 at Middlewich. wider water quality benefits across the administrative border. In Holmes Chapel and Middlewich, typology mapping has shown Getting Outdoors Easily particularly poor access to green spaces over 20 ha (ref: 4C, 12C). ‘Life chances and choices’ pinch points in the landscape area include poor mental health in Holmes Chapel (ref: 13L) and
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high levels of deprivation concentrated in Middlewich town centre longest in Cheshire. A section of the Dane to the east of Holmes (ref: 13L). Opportunities for recreation in the Dane Valley should Chapel is designated as the River Dane SSSI, important for its be considered to help address some of these issues. A high risk meanders, terraces and wildlife value. To the north of Davenport, of air pollution in Holmes Chapel (ref: 14L) results from the town’s a 700m stretch of the Dane SSSI is in unfavourable condition. close proximity to the M6 and multiple other converging A roads. This can be addressed partly through tree planting schemes near One of the largest areas of lowland heath in the county is located to the road infrastructure. on Bosley Cloud, managed by the National Trust and supporting a wide range of specialist and nationally rare flora and fauna. This The lower reaches of the River Dane run to the north of important biodiversity asset extends in patches southwards from Middlewich which lies in the Dane Valley. Middlewich, a Key the Cloud and along Congleton Edge; however most of the Service Centre within Cheshire East, is subject to multiple patches are no longer grazed or managed and are succeeding to development pressures. In particular a large area is designated woodland, threatening the long term survival of the heathland for employment use to the east of the railway line, linking to the specialist species in this area. future Middlewich eastern bypass. Other housing sites are proposed to the south of the borough (ref: 12E), all representing Congleton Moss was once one of the largest peatlands in the opportunities to integrate GI for improved quality of life and region, supporting a range of biodiversity. However, the habitat biodiversity enhancements. has seen severe degradation in the past decade and only a remaining fragment is now designated as a Local Wildlife Site. The Trent and Mersey Canal enters the Dane Valley at Middlewich, with a strong presence as it passes through a In response to the key characteristics of the landscape area, the relatively open landscape into Cheshire West and Chester. The GI Plan for the Dane Valley and Southern Peak Fringe can be Cheshire Ring Canal Walk follows the Trent and Mersey Canal grouped under the following activities: towpath, representing a key asset for delivering benefits of human Rivers and Valleys interaction with blue infrastructure. Thriving Nature Environments for Business The Dane Valley Way extends from the Pavilion Gardens in Farmland and Soils Buxton to the confluence of the River Dane with the River Weaver Getting Outdoors Easily at Northwich and represents a key connectivity and movement asset within the landscape. The Dane Valley Way links with the Rivers and Valleys Gritstone Trail and the Cheshire Ring Canal Walk, representing a key GI connectivity asset, which must be maintained. Most of the Dane river corridor lies in Flood Zone 3, an area at Biodiversity assets in the landscape area include the Local high risk of flooding, including the corridor as it passes through Wildlife Site either side of Davenham Road. From Holmes Chapel Congleton. GI interventions upstream of Congleton along this through Congleton to the boundary of the Peak District National corridor should include ‘slow the flow’ measures to mitigate the Park the river valley is designated as a Local Wildlife Site, the impacts of flooding downstream.
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The generally good re-wilding of the River Dane can be ensure they retain their wildlife value in the long term, and maintained through continued engagement with farmers and increase resilience to environmental change. Weak spots include landowners over best practices, for catchment-wide management the culverted sections of the Dane through Congleton and the to aim to get the River to as near natural conditions as possible. weir at Mill House Havannah, both restricting ecological connections. The Dane Valley and Southern Peak Fringe is crossed by the Macclesfield Canal in the east and the Trent and Mersey Canal to The improvement of wildlife corridors is a key component for the west. There are opportunities for enhancing and improving GI providing connectivity between areas of high wildlife value along the length of the canals and this is presented in more detail enabling species to move between them to feed, migrate or at page 37. reproduce.
Thriving Nature Getting Outdoors Easily
The woodland to the east and north-east of Congleton comprises There is opportunity to improve sustainable public access high quality ancient woodland. The designated Clough woodlands between Congleton and Holmes Chapel along the River Dane, including Madams Wood SSSI and several Local Wildlife Sites where currently access is limited. including large tracts along the River Dane require enhancement. Areas of ancient woodland can also be linked by wildlife corridors Increasing connectivity to heritage and GI assets from the Trent for wider benefits. The Dane Valley woodlands are also identified and Mersey Canal is an opportunity to encourage users to engage as a priority for positive action by the RSPB and the Forestry in the wider environmental setting. Signposting and well- Commission. The management of the woodlands should involve maintained paths to such assets is an approach to achieving this local people, particularly school children, to widen community as well as community-led projects. understanding and involvement in the importance of their conservation. The town of Congleton, in the Southern Peak Fringe, is in close proximity to the Peak District National Park. Development of well- At Congleton Moss, the peatland flora and fauna have now largely maintained, signposted and sustainable travel routes to reach disappeared as the habitat has dried out and trees have Bosley Cloud and beyond, to the National Park, is a chance to encroached. Peatlands are an important asset for carbon encourage residents and visitors to immerse themselves in a sequestration, and a priority in this area must be the restoration of larger scale landscape and become involved in many of the the landscape for both climate change and biodiversity objectives. learning opportunities available.
Cheshire Wildlife Trust identifies three areas around Congleton – Environments for Business the River Dane corridor, woodlands at Bath Vale, Dane-in-Shaw and Timbersbook and the ridge between Congleton and Bosley The proposed delivery of 70 hectares of employment land (Site Cloud - which require more integrated ecological connections to LPS 44 in the Cheshire East Local Plan) to the east of Middlewich
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must ensure the effective integration of GI into future incorporate the Wheelock valley to encourage interaction with development. Features such as rain gardens, street trees, green blue infrastructure. walls and roofs, and open spaces can all contribute to a green public realm within the future development. The River Croco, The Trent and Mersey Canal runs parallel to the Wheelock which runs to the north of the allocated site must be safeguarded through much of its length, which is an important tourism and with effective ecological mitigation. With accessibility to large recreational resource. The canal is designated as a Conservation areas of urban green space currently a pinch point in Middlewich Area, an important feature being its cultural and heritage assets. (ref: 12C), the strategic employment site is an opportunity to also provide wider community and environmental benefits, providing The farmed pasture along the Wheelock Valley is generally of open green space with wider cycle and footpath connections. poor GI value. The catchment of the Wheelock waterbody and Hassall Brook represents a pinch point (ref: 9E) due to poor water quality, with better management presenting an opportunity for River Wheelock wider landscape scale benefits.
The River Wheelock drains water from land between Sandbach In response to the key characteristics of the landscape area, the and Crewe, flowing north to join the River Dane at Middlewich. GI Plan for the Dane Valley and Southern Peak Fringe can be The landform of the River Wheelock and its catchment is more grouped under the following activities: incised than the surrounding Cheshire plain. There are linear Rivers and Valleys bands of deciduous vegetation along the riverbank and its Thriving Nature tributaries. Vegetated drainage channels along the Wheelock are Farmland and Soils of nature conservation value and some areas of the Wheelock’s banks are designated asLocal Wildlife Sites. Rivers and Valleys
A large proportion of the pinch points along the River Wheelock Better management of the farmed pasture along the River are concentrated around Middlewich. There are high levels of Wheelock would comprise catchment sensitive farming to deliver deprivation (ref: 15L) in the centre of Middlewich and allocated reduced water pollution and biodiversity benefits. Overall sites within the Local Plan adjoining the River Wheelock (ref: E12) economic benefits would save farmers money by planning more present development pressures; both present opportunities to link carefully for pesticides, for example. Working across landscape green and blue infrastructure sensitively within development for areas, including the adjacent Bollin Riverlands can help to tackle health and wellbeing benefits. the numerous, individual sources across the landscape for more integrated benefits. The Wheelock crosses a landscape where there are several Thriving Nature connectivity and movement pinch points. For example, overcoming poor connectivity between Sandbach and Crewe (ref: The Sandbach Flashes, designated as a SSSI, lie adjacent to the 11C) and over the Wheelock bypass (ref: 10C) could both source of the River Wheelock comprising Elton Flashes, Watch
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Lane Flash and the Moat Nature Reserves. The Flashes comprise Cheshire West and Chester, crossing the administrative boundary rare saline habitats, which require continued effective at Lea Green. There was a proposal to create a Weaver Valley management. The Flashes offer a large water storage potential, Regional Park along the River weaver from Frodsham to Audlem, therefore with the ability to contribute to storm water encompassing Middlewich Sandbach and Crewe. management. Nantwich is the first significant town along the River’s course. The Connected wildlife corridors along the River Wheelock can Nantwich Riverside Walk runs on both sides of the River Weaver overcome habitat fragmentation as well as contributing to slowing through Nantwich representing a key GI asset to the town. the flow downstream where the river meets Middlewich. Re- Housing and employment allocations in Nantwich represent a naturalising the Wheelock around Middlewich can help to mimic pinch point in this area, as well as an opportunity to provide natural water management. Trees and SuDS can contribute to the linkages to GI assets and the river corridor through green interception of rainfall, allow for infiltration and store water corridors and sustainable transport links. Other housing and temporarily during times of increased rainfall. employment allocations in the Weaver Valley, creating pressures and opportunities for the effective integration of GI are located on Farmlands and Soils the urban fringes of Crewe and Sandbach (economy, environment) (ref: 13E, 15E, 16E). Soils are an important carbon stock, and through farming practices we can actively increase their role as a carbon store. Across the Weaver Valley, 900 homes are in Flood Zone 2 and The farmed pasture along the Wheelock is an ideal place to 3000 homes are within 100m of it (Mersey Forest, 2017)18. The encourage such practices. Some practices relate to farm River Weaver flows west of the Nantwich town centre. The management practices such as reduced tillage, improved crop southern outskirts of Nantwich in particular have been subject to rotations and improved fertiliser application. Other practices multiple flooding events, leaving some urban areas submerged as concern farmland vegetation; the management of buffer strips, a result of the River Weaver overtopping its banks. existing hedgerows and habitat restoration can all contribute to soil potential as a carbon store, whilst also having significant Crewe lies in the west of the Weaver Valley, the River Weaver benefits for wildlife and water quality. passing approximately 1km to the east of Crewe’s settlement edge at its nearest point. There is a lack of GI in central and east Crewe as well as between north Nantwich and south of Crewe. Weaver Valley The River Weaver Core Biodiversity Area is a key asset for From its source in Cheshire West and Chester, just south of wildlife; the Core Biodiversity Area represents a framework to Peckforton Castle, the River Weaver flows for 80km, initially it conserve and enhance biodiversity at a landscape scale. takes a south westerly course towards the border with Shropshire before flowing approximately northwards across the Cheshire 18 https://www.merseyforest.org.uk/Report_to_Natural_England.pdf plain. The lower reaches of the River Weaver flow through
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Outdoor pursuits are popular on the River Weaver including opportunities for increasing interaction with the natural fishing, though opportunities for accessing the river’s edge are environment present themselves. more limitedin parts. A key connectivity and movement asset in the Weaver Valley is the Crewe and Nantwich Circular Walk, Despite access to many long distance trails within the valley, which connects the towns and villages surrounding the two towns, there are some specific areas where connectivity and movement and taking in the Sandbach Flashes Wetlands, designated as an is more of a priority for enhancement. For example, to the north SSSI. The Flashes is nationally recognised for its wildlife and west, north east and south of Crewe, there is a more limited provides an important water store and flood management network of public rights of way (ref: 13C, 14C). mechanism. The River Weaver runs through the largely rural Weaver Gowy The Shropshire Union Canal crosses the Weaver Valley river catchment. The Weaver Gowy Catchment Partnership unites landscape area north of Crewe, providing recreational relevant organisations across Cheshire to deliver catchment scale opportunities. The Crewe and Nantwich Circular Walk takes users projects to build the blue economy in line with local policy and the onto the Shropshire Union Canal towpath for a short distance. UK’s 25 Year Environment Plan. The vision of the Weaver Gowy Catchment Partnership approach is for ‘all water bodies of the There are many areas of high business density within the Weaver Weaver Gowy catchment to be clean and healthy, supporting Valley landscape area, including central Nantwich and central abundant wildlife, valued by people and enabling sustainable Crewe including the 67 acre Crewe Business Park. Although there economic growth.’ are exceptions, areas of high business density in Crewe and Nantwich are generally associated with low GI coverage, In response to the above, the GI Plan for the Weaver Valley can representing pinch points in the Weaver Valley (ref: 3E, 4E). be grouped under the following activities: Effective planning for GI can have a wide range of social and Rivers and Valleys health benefits for employees in these areas as well as reducing Thriving Nature the ‘urban heat island’ effect and providing shading. Working Alongside Infrastructure
Life chances and choices pinch points across the Weaver Valley include Crewe, where there is a high risk of poor mental health Rivers and Valleys (ref: 21L) alongside high levels of deprivation (ref: 20L) and poor access to green space (ref: 22L). Sandbach has a high Natural flood management techniques to slow the flow on the prevalence of air pollution (ref: 16L) particularly around a number Weavers approach into Nantwich, will reduce the prevalence of of properties at the junction of A534 and A5022 and a stretch of flood events. Land management practices on the agricultural land Middlewich Road through the town centre, both designated as Air outside of the urban area form part of the Weaver Gowy Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). Poor levels of mental Catchment partnership approach, and can mitigate flooding health in Nantwich (ref: 24L) represent a pinch point, where downstream and improve the ecological quality of the river. Interventions such as buffer strips, better soil management and
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planting farm woodland can all contribute to this approach. The Planning for GI along the HS2 route in the Weaver Valley, in partnership can provide a platform for engagement with farmers Crewe and beyond can contribute to high quality networks of and landowners, as well as the support needed to implement such multifunctional GI, contributing to habitat creation while mitigating measures. against detrimental impacts.
The Weaver Valley is crossed by the Shropshire Union Canal New developments on the outskirts of Crewe include Leighton (Main Line) in the south and the Shropshire Union Canal West, Basford East and West and South Cheshire Growth Village (Middlewich Branch) to the north west of Crewe. There are are likely to come forward in the time frame of this plan. Additional opportunities for enhancing and improving GI along the length of sites are allocated on the settlement fringes of Sandbach and the canals and this is presented in more detail at page 37. Nantwich. New developments should include tree planting, greenspaces, and safe, secure pedestrian and cycle routes Thriving Nature integrated into the development proposal, whilst connected to the surrounding GI and road network. It is important that as part of future development, the river corridor is safeguarded and enhanced. Woodland planting, catchment- There is opportunity to increase cycle connectivity between Crewe sensitive farming and addressing point source pollution can all and Sandbach, drawing on and connecting to existing assets such contribute to improved water quality along the river. as the Wheelock Rail Trail and Salt Line, and integrating existing GI assets into such a network including the Sandbach Flashes. To preserve and enhance an existing ecological asset in the The route is important for recreation and employment valley, the management and restoration of Sandbach Flashes opportunities, drawing residents into Crewe town centre with a must involve mechanisms to ensure that hydrological connections range of consequent economic benefits. with the Sandbach Flashes do not have an adverse impact on the fine balance of the ecology. Sandstone Ridge
Working alongside infrastructure The Sandstone Ridge straddles the border between the administrative areas of Cheshire East and Cheshire West and HS2 is planned to be routed through the Weaver Valley Chester, covering a total of 220 sq km. It runs for 30km between catchment area, north of Crewe. A number of the aims of HS2, Frodsham and Helsby in the north to Malpas in the south. The including environmental change, resilience, contributing to good south western extent of the Sandstone Ridge lies along the south design and promoting healthy communities, relate to GI concepts eastern boundary of Cheshire East, encompassing the and therefore this offers an opportunity to integrate GI for settlements north of Malpas such as Egerton Green, Bickerton, maximum benefits, while mitigating against loss. Peckforton and Spurstow.
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The Sandstone Ridge is essentially rural in character and potential to increase access and participation in outdoor activity encompasses an area of complex rolling hills and sandstone among a wider audience. escarpments. The Shropshire Union Canal passes to the west of Nantwich and The wider area is home to numerous GI assets, covering several through Audlem, running through the fringe of the Sandstone strategic themes including the meres and mosses of the north- Ridge. This section of the canal is a wide waterway which crosses west Midlands (environment) which lie adjacent to the ridge and the Cheshire Plain, popular with walkers and home to abundant form a geographically discrete series of nationally and biodiversity. internationally important lowland open water and peatland sites, supporting extensive plants and species. A number of locally distinctive landmarks punctuate the ridge; those in Cheshire East include the Grade I Listed historic Also falling under the environment strategic theme, large areas of Peckforton Hall which lies in the south eastern section of the lowland heath survive at Bickerton Hill, designated as Raw Head Sandstone Ridge. The priority area also has several pinch points SSSI. An Iron Age fort and Scheduled Monument of national across all the strategic themes. There are connectivity and importance, Maiden Castle, lies at the highest point of the hill, movement pinch points in that the good links between the representing a significant heritage asset for the landscape area. Sandstone Ridge and the wider road network mean that this is a Bickerton Hill is also designated for its Triassic environment and desirable place to live for those seeking a rural lifestyle with neighbouring Bulkley Hill is a local SBI for its woodland interest. access to key services.To date, there is limited housing The River Weaver rises in the Peckforton Hills which form the development identified in our Local Plan in this area, though local watershed. The Weaver and Gowy rise within 500m of each future development must ensure good development management other just south of Peckforton Village on the plain at the foot of the and biodiversity net gain policy to provide opportunities to create ridge. Peckforton Woods SSSI retains the largest tract of sessile high quality, multifunctional built environments which link oak in Cheshire, and is one of the largest wooded areas of the developments to the rural area. Sandstone Ridge itself. In terms of Rivers and Valleys, the Gowy cuts through the Mersey Forest’s ongoing work across the ridge in the Sandstone ridge (from east to west) at the Beeston Gap in neighbouring administrative area of Cheshire West and Chester CWAC. The Sandstone Ridge forms a watershed between the involves planting a network of new community woodlands, is Weaver and the Dee south of the Beeston Gap. The source of further strengthening the character of the Sandstone Ridge. the River Gowy is in the Peckforton Hills, in the south east of the Sandstone Ridge. Under the Water Framework Directive, the Under the connectivity and movement strategic theme, the ecological and water quality of the River Gowy from source to Sandstone Trail begins in Whitchurch and stretches to Frodsham Milton Brook is ‘poor’.The reasons behind this include in the north, forming a GI asset. The national long-distance sedimentation, channel modifications and diffuse pollution arising footpath follows the higher ground and provides elevated views from fertilisers, pesticides and discharges from septic tanks. across the ridge and beyond. There are four million people who live within 20 miles of the ridge as a whole, highlighting great
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A Green Infrastructure Plan for Cheshire East 2019 to 2030
In response, a GI Plan for the Sandstone Ridge can be grouped boundary, collaborative approach with partners in Cheshire West into five broad activities: will be required.
Getting outdoors easily The Gowy Catchment Partnership works with various Rivers and valleys organisations to tackle pollution and working with communities, Thriving Nature businesses and farmers to improve the water environment. A distinctive place for culture, heritage and tourism Farmland and soils The ‘Call of Nature’ campaign is already active in Cheshire to address issues with septic tank contamination. There is scope to Getting Outdoors Easily increase awareness of septic tank pollution across Cheshire East especially among rural communities. Alongside the Gritstone Trail, the Sandstone Trail is included in the Twin Trails project which aims to deliver multiple objectives Thriving Nature relating to connectivity and path infrastructure improvements, to allow the parallel trails to contribute further to the visitor economy. Though the international and national designations across the part Project work includes: of the ridge within Cheshire East form a significant proportion of Delivering path infrastructure improvements to a the area, over half of the area of the Bickerton Hill SSSI is in consistent high quality unfavourable condition. In 1992, the National Trust embarked on Increasing accessibility through easy way-finding and the first of a series of three, ten-year DEFRA funded agri- broadening interpretation environment schemes, designed to facilitate the restoration of lowland heath through removal of birch. Large-scale birch scrub The Twin Trails project aims to attract new visitors for the benefit removal initiatives using rangers, contractors and volunteers, of rural businesses, whilst converting day visitors to overnight together with the reintroduction of traditional grazing have begun visitors. to re-establish sustainable heathland communities which had Within new developments, the creation of new or extended public largely been lost following cessation of grazing after Second access could be encouraged, to improve connectivity between World War. settlements and to the rural areas, as well as providing sustainable access onto the Sandstone Trail. In the meres and mosses area in the south west of Cheshire East, the management of water is critical as periods of drought can Rivers and Valleys degrade peat soils, leading to habitat loss. The range of habitats present at Wybunbury Moss is part of the suite of Meres and The Rivers and Valleys activity area is relevant to the Sandstone Mosses Ramsar sites and is a Special Area of Conservation Ridge due to the Weaver and Gowy crossing the plain at the foot supporting many nationally and locally rare invertebrate species. of the ridge. To tackle the water and ecological quality problems The contribution of such Mosses to carbon capture is also of near the source of the River Gowy and the River Weaver, a cross- importance.
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Recent work at Bickerton Hill has hugely increased the area of Farmlands and Soils lowland heath habitat through felling of birch and restoration of arable land to heathland. And a regime of bracken control, At a landscape scale, across the whole of the ridge, the traditional cattle grazing and scrub management will ensure the Sandstone Ridge provides a living for over 400 farmers. The sustainability of heathland communities. Opportunity for further Sandstone Ridge Trust are working with farmers and land restoration of nearby pasture should be sought. managers to establish a Sandstone Ridge Farmer Network to improve the Ridge’s landscape, habitats, watercourses and The work of the Mersey Forest in the adjacent borough of historic features. Future projects and programmes should link with Cheshire West and Chester is continuing to link the existing the Network for wider landscape benefits and land owner fragmented patches of ancient broadleaved woodland into an engagement, also drawing on local knowledge. integrated network of woodland habitat. Future management should ensure that this growing woodland network is protected The steep slopes of the ridge largely comprise thin acid soils against damage from development. supporting concentrations of woodland. The farmed landscape has great potential to increase the carbon sequestration potential The ridge as a whole is visited by more than one million people of soils, and protect soils for their provision of nutrients and water each year. The Sandstone Ridge Trust has identified that the area as a biodiverse resource. Practices focusing on farmland would benefit from a clearer and stronger identify as a place, vegetation would be suitable on the ridge, including management increasing awareness of the Ridge outside of Cheshire19. of existing hedgerows, farmland trees, buffer strips and restoration of degraded land. A long term goal of working towards a national accolade which recognises the quality and value of the landscape, such as a landscape designation, would require an integrated approach to The Northern Forest focus the interests and efforts of all stakeholders. The Sandstone Ridge Strategic Plan 2019-2024 states that a key aim is to pursue Cheshire East is in the ‘halo’ or southern fringe of the Northern AONB designation for the Sandstone Ridge. Forest with over two million trees targeted for planting in the borough. ‘A New Northern Forest’20 – Northern Forest Manifesto The Twin Trails Project, introduced under Getting Outdoors sets out the vision for planting 50 million new trees across the Easily, aims to improve the infrastructure of Cheshire’s Twin M62 corridor over the next 25 years. ‘A New Northern Forest’ sets Trails, whilst widening the offer to new markets through increasing accessibility. The Sandstone Trail can be walked over three days. The work is set to encourage longer distance walking while also 20 New Northern Forest (2017), City of Trees, Creative Concern, HEYwoods, promoting the visitor economy in the area. Mersey Forest, White Rose Forest, Woodland Trust. http://media.ontheplatform.org.uk/sites/default/files/Northern%20Forest%20 Prospectus%20January%202018.pdf 19 Delivery Model Options Appraisal for the Sandstone Ridge Trust (May 2018)
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out an indicative spatial plan for locating any new tree planting in potential damage to the environment is an opportunity that should the community forests and fringe areas. It is informed by where not be missed. For example the permanent retention of temporary trees can bring the most benefit to people and nature including construction roads to provide ready-made GI routes is one way of economy, health, biodiversity and landscape character. enabling durable benefit from a long period of construction disruption. Although tree planting is recommended for many parts of the borough, examples from the prospectus that could be identified as As an example, work is being undertaken for potential priority focus for planting could be: environmental net gain for connections between the Dunham A556 corridor between Mere and Rostherne Massey and Tatton Park estates. The area, which is popular with walkers and cyclists, presents opportunities to connect both Land in the vicinity of Peover assets in support of recreation and tourism. In terms of Wilmslow and Handforth biodiversity there is the Rostherne Mere SSSI, and a number of Macclesfield and land towards Alderley Park habitats and corridors that are home to several protected wildlife Land to the south of River Dane, including Crewe and species. This area is already severed by the M56 and A556 road key service centres (Middlewich, Sandbach, Congleton, infrastructure and this could be further compounded by the HS2 Alsager and Nantwich) proposals.
More specific recommendations for locating potential tree planting The Dunham to Tatton link project proposes a number of off-road are provided later in Part B under principal towns and key service routes for pedestrians and cyclists recognising crossing points to centres. existing infrastructure, proposed crossings to HS2 and opportunities for overcoming severance in other locations. As part of HS2, there is a commitment to no net loss of biodiversity across High Speed 2 Rail Corridor the whole scheme, though no commitments yet to biodiversity net gain. HS2 is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the North West region. However the infrastructure has specific demands in terms of lateral and vertical alignments and there is risk that these requirements will cause some severance to the existing GI network in terms of access for people and nature. The environmental impact assessment process seeks to mitigate the loss of habitat and severance caused to GI for people and nature. Opportunities are being considered through environmental net gain and improvement to the GI network with no net loss of biodiversity. As the scheme offers a chance to build in well designed and permanent GI elements that will benefit the local population. Developing mitigation plans that will help to alleviate
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Principal Towns and Key Service Centres
The principal towns are Macclesfield and Crewe. These are the largest towns with a wide range of employment, retail and education opportunities and services, serving a large catchment area with a high level of accessibility and public transport.
Key service centres (KSC) are towns with a range of employment, retail and education opportunities and services and good public transport. The KSCs are Alsager, Congleton, Handforth, Knutsford, Middlewich, Nantwich, Poynton, Sandbach and Wilmslow.
For each of these urban areas, a brief summary of the GI assets, pinch points and enhancement proposals is given in the following sections. Multifunctionality plans are provided for Macclesfield and Crewe illustrating where multifunctional GI is located and where GI is absent.
Macclesfield
In Macclesfield the most multifunctional land areas are the Figure 4 - Macclesfield GI Functionality Map wooded edges and open spaces in the Riverside Park extending from north of the town centre in a north westerly direction The town has several “pinch points”, reflecting local needs for following the course of the River Bollin. Land to the south east, better GI. In terms of economy, central Macclesfield has high including Tegg’s Nose Country Park, also delivers a high number business density (ref. 1E) requiring high quality of public realm. of functions. This contrasts with agricultural land to western The centre has an environmental pinch point in respect of low tree fringes of the town which delivers a low number of functions. GI is canopy and much sealed surface rendering it vulnerable to absent in parts of the centre of the town (see Figure 4). climate change (ref. 5T). South West Macclesfield is a growth area, including new housing and major road and drainage infrastructure (ref. 10E), so good GI provision is critical for quality of place.
Several parts of the town have pinch points in respect of life chances and choices and connectivity, due to areas of poor public
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health, exposure to relatively poor air quality, propensity to poor western edge are both major GI assets in the vicinity that can be mental health and lack of ready access to greenspace (pinch protected, enhanced and connected with Central Macclesfield. points 6L, 7L, 8L, 9L, 10L, 2C and 3C). Given the constrained nature of the area, any urban greening The most important assets for good functioning of GI across interventions would need to be retrofitted into the existing urban Macclesfield are Riverside Park, South Park, the Macclesfield environment. Perhaps the greatest opportunities lie along the Canal and the Middlewood Way. Other parks, such as West Park Churchill Way corridor which forms the main route through the and Victoria Park are also important local assets especially where area and is highly visible. There are a number of vacant sites and they can meet local needs in respect of physical and mental surface car parks fronting Churchill Way where the edges could health. be planted with street trees, hedges and shrubs. In other areas of Central Macclesfield are more constrained but there may be In response, a GI Plan for Macclesfield can be grouped into three opportunities that can be taken when public realm works are broad activities: undertaken within the central area, allowing consideration of further urban greening to be included. Urban Greening Getting Outdoors Easily A quieter street, such as Brown Street and/or Poplar Street, could Working Alongside Major Infrastructure be promoted as a pedestrian priority route linking the business area to South Park. Measures would include enhanced road The GI recommendations for Macclesfield’s urban should be crossings points, wider pavements and street planting. Prestbury implemented alongside those for the Bollin Riverlands, described Road could be promoted as a pedestrian priority route to West earlier. Park, with improved crossings over the A537 to reduce the perception of severance. Urban greening Localised treatments to business areas could include retrofitting The aim of urban greening activity is to create vibrant, healthy and ‘greening’ of site frontages, green walls and green roofs where inspiring places where people want to live, work and invest. feasible.
Central Macclesfield near Churchill Way (ref. 1E) is an area with At a slightly broader scale, parts of central Macclesfield are potential to benefit from GI due to high business density. Some of amongst the most vulnerable to future climate change due to high this area has very little functioning GI and is characterised by proportion of sealed surfaces and low tree canopy (ref. 5T). dense built form with pavement fronting buildings, buildings with large footprints, a number of surface car parks and few street Investing in a project ‘Greening Central Macclesfield Businesses’ trees. However, South Park at the southern edge of this area should attract inward investment and retain high calibre along with West Park and Macclesfield Cemetery at the north businesses. GI proposals should align with the Macclesfield Town Centre Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF - draft 2019).
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continued focus on areas such as West Park and access to such The areas of north east Macclesfield (north of Hurdsfield Road, assets offers significant potential. ref. 7L) and south west Macclesfield (in vicinity of Earlesway, ref. 9L) are highlighted as neighbourhoods in the 10% most deprived The eastern edge of Macclesfield (Hurdsfield and Buxton Road, in Cheshire East, with poor health concerns. They are ref. 2C) is highlighted for its more limited PRoW network and characterised by post-war housing, some high density, with some connections to neighbouring GI assets. The Macclesfield Canal areas of open space (road verges, buildings set in areas of mown flows along the eastern edge of the town but access to the grass) with an apparent lack of role and function. towpath is limited in places. Improved connections with ramps from roads or footpaths, with signposting, would improve There are opportunities to increase the GI functions of these accessibility and use of this asset. spaces through street tree planting to verges, habitat creation to the edges of open spaces and SuDS schemes. These spaces The eastern edge of Macclesfield is characterised by steep slopes would also benefit from being managed to be more welcoming rising east towards the Peak District National Park. Improved and clean, encouraging use by local residents. signs and wayfinding from the local network of street would enhance access to the PRoW network and the countryside. Investing in a ‘Greening Macclesfield Neighbourhoods’ project would create a network of open spaces, delivering more GI Investing in a ‘Routes to the Canal and the Peaks’ project would functions and improving quality of place. It would also present an enable more people to gain access to the outdoors. opportunity for community engagement in GI provision. Working Alongside Major Infrastructure Getting Outdoors Easily The aim of these activities is to integrate GI into major new The aim of this GI activity is to engage people and improve development and infrastructure projects and retrofit GI alongside community access to, and enjoyment of, GI for health and existing infrastructure, especially where this has historically wellbeing. fragmented accessibility or ecological networks
An area at the northern edge of the town (Tytherington, near The central area of Macclesfield (ref. 8L) is bound by the highly Manchester Road ref. 6L) and an area to the southern edge of the trafficked routes including Chester Road, Congleton Road, Park town (London Road ref. 10L) are identified as having a high risk of Lane, Silk Road and Buxton Road. The proximity of central poor mental health. Macclesfield to these busy routes means that the area suffers from air pollution levels which are within the highest 10% of air The focus for these areas should involve ‘social prescribing’ pollution exposure in Cheshire East. where health and community services help to signpost and facilitate activities in outdoor spaces for local people. In addition, Where space allows, trees, hedges and shrubs should be retrofitted near to these road corridors under the project ‘Cleaner
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Air in Macclesfield’. Trees can act as air filters and can capture Infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists should also be provided gases such as nitrogen dioxide and ozone through the stomata of creating orbital routes to the western and southern edges of the leaves and thereby improve air quality. town connecting the allocated sites with the Riverside Park and Tegg’s Nose Country Park. The central core of Macclesfield (ref. 5T) has very low tree canopy coverage and the area extending north east from core towards the employment area at Hurdsfield is characterised by high sealed surfaces. The former area should also prioritise street trees increasing future climate change resilience in the central core and supporting ‘Cleaner Air Macclesfield’. The Macclesfield SRF highlights the opportunity for improvements to the Station Gateway as an initial welcome to train passengers arriving in the town. The Macclesfield SRF proposes street tree planting to assist in articulating space and a contribution to visual amenity. Street tree planting would also contribute to air quality and to slow rapid surface water run-off following rainfall.
There is some existing ‘greening’ of the employment area at Hurdsfield. However there are available roadside verges and grassed areas within sites that could be retrofitted with planting and SuDS infrastructure to increase future climate change resilience and to reduce the risk of rapid surface water run-off from buildings and surfaces.
The strategic housing and employment allocation sites (10E and 3C) are on land of low multifunctionality with poor connectivity to existing assets such as the Riverside Park and Tegg’s Nose Country Park to the north-west and east respectively (see earlier Macclesfield GI multifunctionality map).
In terms of the planning and development of the sites, they should be designed to provide a network of GI that delivers the highest level of multifunctionality including recreation, green travel, evaporative cooling, habitats for wildlife and water interception.
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Crewe Valley, Wistaston, Basford and Leighton Brooks with associated green spaces which form important local assets that can meet Crewe's most multifunctional land is also associated with some local needs. See Figure 5. watercourse corridors including the Valley Brook and Wistaston Brook in the western part of the town. Land at Crewe Hall, at the south eastern edge, delivers a high number of functions, although the grounds are not accessible to the public. Agricultural land to the northern, western and southern fringes of the town delivers the lowest number of functions. Areas around the town centre, the railway station and employment areas to the south east and west, indicate an absence of GI.
The town has several “pinch points”, reflecting local needs for better GI. In terms of economy, central Crewe has high business density (ref. 3E) requiring high quality of public realm. The centre has an environmental pinch point in respect of low tree canopy and much sealed surface rendering it vulnerable to climate change (ref. 12T).
The Crewe HS2 Hub Draft Masterplan Vision (2017) sets out the opportunities for the town with the arrival of HS2 to Crewe in 2027. It envisages the delivery of a green corridor that will integrate the station hub into Crewe and link it with the town centre.
Figure 5 – Crewe GI Multifunctionality Map Several areas of the wider town have pinch points in relation to housing and employment sites (ref. 15E) and life chances and choices and connectivity, due to areas of poor public health, exposure to relatively poor air quality, propensity to poor mental The GI Action Plan for Crewe, forms part of the Local Plan health and lack of ready access to greenspace (pinch points 20L, evidence base, was prepared in 2013 and sets out the spatial 21L, 22L, 14C and 15C). priorities and detailed GI measures. In light of the effect of planned urban expansion, HS2, increased population growth Crewe has several GI assets of borough-wide significance. These projections and further evidence on health and wellbeing benefits include Queens Park and the wooded grounds of Crewe Hall of urban GI, the action plan should be updated. (though site not accessible to the public). Other assets include the
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Case Study – GI Action Plan for Crewe
The GI Action Plan sets an ambitious vision for a comprehensive and connected network of GI to drive forward the economic renaissance and physical regeneration of Crewe (see key diagram overleaf). It recognises the existing assets and seeks to extend them to address the severance caused by the railway infrastructure and challenges of health deprivation and shortfalls of greenspace.
Crewe’s river corridors can be re-invigorated with opportunities for recreation, providing a setting for building form and connected corridors for nature. Another unrealised asset is the countryside surrounding Crewe, although there is a need for restoring its character to provide a quality setting for the town.
One of the principles of the GI Action Plan is to retrofit GI into existing development while integrating GI into future masterplans and regeneration schemes.
An updated GI Plan for Crewe would be address three broad activities and provide further detail in respect of:
Urban Greening and Environments for Business Getting Outdoors Easily Working Alongside Major Infrastructure
Figure 6: Key Diagram - Green Infrastructure Action Plan for Crewe
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The GI recommendations for Crewe’s urban area should be hardstanding. Where feasible, localised treatments to business considered alongside those for Nantwich, the Weaver Valley and sites could include retrofitting the ‘greening’ of site frontages, green the HS2 corridor, described elsewhere. walls and green roofs. Some existing business locations already benefit from a GI setting, such as Crewe Business Park which was Urban Greening one of the UK’s first Green Business Parks. However even there are further opportunities to enhance these credentials. The town centre and areas near to Nantwich Road and Dunwoody Way are areas of need for GI due to high business density (ref. 3E). Investing in a ‘Greening Spaces in Central Crewe’ project could The area is characterised by dense built form arising from the attract inward investment arising from HS2. town’s Victorian era with pavement fronting buildings and a grid network of streets, with very limited GI. The Valley Brook corridor is The areas of north west and north east Crewe and near Gresty a GI asset, passing next to the southern edge of the town centre but Road (ref. 20L) are highlighted as neighbourhoods in the 10% most with very limited frontage or access for people. deprived in Cheshire East, also with poor health concerns and poor access to greenspace (ref. 22L). North west Crewe is characterised The layout of the town centre is constrained but the Memorial by Victorian terraced housing with limited open space. Given the Square is a good example of high quality public realm with GI density of development and limited space, any areas of open space retrofitted into the space. The contribution of good quality GI should would need to deliver a greater number of functions to include play be considered at the design stage in future public realm schemes or and food growing. Intensive use of these spaces would also require in the refurbishment of other squares and the network of pedestrian a greater degree of management. priority streets in the vicinity. North east Crewe and Gresty Road are characterised by inter- and The area around Dunwoody Way has good connections towards post-war housing, with some areas of open space (road verges, the Valley Brook corridor along the grid network of streets. However buildings set in areas of mown grass) with an apparent lack of role the frontages to the Valley Brook need to be improved to increase and function. There are opportunities to increase the GI functions its presence in the locality. This could be achieved by improving of these spaces through street tree planting to verges, habitat connections through adjacent sites. creation to the edges of open spaces and SuDS schemes. These spaces would also benefit from being managed to be more Nantwich Road is an important approach road into Crewe with a welcoming and clean, encouraging use by local residents. mix of business uses. It has relatively wide footways and would benefit from comprehensive street tree planting to support inward Investing in a ‘Greening Crewe Neighbourhoods’ project would investment and improve quality of place. create a network of open spaces, delivering more GI functions and improving quality of place. Common with other towns in Cheshire East, the central area has large floorplate development with access roads, car parks and
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The current town centre regeneration plans and the Crewe Station and gardens, Crewe Hall and Queens Park and Crewe ‘Green’ Area Action Plan proposals both offer potential to improve GI values Business Park. The two parks and gardens have wider connection and to incorporate GI at the design stage within public realm and to the Cheshire countryside. As referred to in an earlier paragraph, the built environment. the frontages to the Valley Brook will need to be improved to maximise its presence and accessibility. Getting Outdoors Easily The current town centre regeneration plans and the Crewe Station The aim of this GI activity is to engage people and improve Area Action Plan (AAP) 2019 Draft for Consultation includes an community access to, and enjoyment of, GI for health and approach to improve GI values and to incorporate GI at the design wellbeing. stage within public realm and the built environment. The AAP includes Crewe Hub Station, Crewe Commercial Hub and land Several areas of the western edge of the town (Woolstandwood, extending to Gresty Road and Mill Street to the west, Manchester and Wistaston ref. 21L) are identified as having a high risk of poor Bridge to the north and Gateway to the east. Policy ‘IN4 Green mental health. The focus for these areas should involve ‘social Infrastructure’ sets out requirements for GI including identifying prescribing’ where health and community services help to signpost features of local character, integrating sustainable drainage and and facilitate activities in outdoor spaces for local people. There are delivering biodiversity net-gain. a number of convenient GI assets in the vicinity including Queens Park, the Wistaston Brook corridor and the Connect 2 Crewe to The Basford East sites (ref. 15E) south of the town are being Nantwich Greenway which provides easier access to recreational developed and promoted partly as employment and partly for activities. There is also potential for green links represented in the housing. The sites should be designed to deliver a high quality GI original ‘GI Action Plan for Crewe’ along with new opportunities setting for building form, provide space for recreation and showcase such as transforming the Maw Green former waste site into green features such as Gresty Brook. space, which could provide links for north Crewe and potential to link towards the Sandbach flashes. Mixed use development is proposed to the north west of Crewe near to Leighton Hospital. GI should be given prominence and be Working Alongside Major Infrastructure integrated within the development. The GI network will include a wide overhead line corridor with an opportunity to link with Leighton The aim of this activity is to integrate GI into major new Hospital providing benefits for patients and staff. However a set of development and infrastructure projects and retrofit GI alongside design guidelines should be prepared to minimise the linearity of existing infrastructure, especially where this has historically the space and adverse visual effects from the existing pylons. fragmented accessibility or ecological networks.
The Crewe HS2 Hub Draft Masterplan Vision (2017) envisages that GI is drawn into the centre of Crewe along the Valley Brook corridor. Valley Brook connects two of the most significant parks
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Alsager plan for Alsager includes policies and proposals based on recent ecological surveys and mapping21. The town has three ‘’pinch points’’ covering economy and life chances and choices. Working Alongside Major Infrastructure
In terms of assets there is the converted ‘Salt Line’ former railway Various types of development (14E - housing and employment) are providing pedestrians, cyclists and horse-riders with some off road proposed on a former factory site to the eastern edge of the town, access to the countryside to the west of the town and connecting with several other sites proposed at the western edge of the town. with the Wheelock Rail Trail near Sandbach and the Cheshire Ring GI investment should be focussed on extending the Salt Line along Canal Walk (Trent and Mersey Canal). the dismantled railway east of Sandbach Road North, along the northern edge of Alsager towards the Trent Mersey Canal west of In response, a GI Plan for Alsager can be grouped into three broad Kidsgrove, The length of the potential extension would be 3km and activities: would provide an excellent opportunity for further recreation and active travel and could form an ‘off road’ circuit in combination with Getting Outdoors Easily the canal network. Thriving Nature Working Alongside Major Infrastructure Improvements to the PRoW network to the western edge of the town should also be prioritised to enable access to the Salt Line to Getting Outdoors Easily the north.
One area to the east of the town (18L) is identified as having a high A large area of the western part of the town is identified as having level of multiple deprivation, with another area to the west (19L) high exposure to air pollution with its proximity to the M6. The having a high risk of poor mental health. There is a high presence intervening agricultural land between the M6 and the town has of GI in the town so the focus for these areas should involve ‘social limited tree cover although there is a network of managed prescribing’ where health and community services help to signpost hedgerows with some hedgerow trees. Priority should be given to and facilitate activities in outdoor spaces for local people. There tree planting on some of this agricultural land to assist in capturing would also be opportunity for better links to the Salt Line and pollutants while there would also be opportunity to contribute to the Cheshire Ring Canal Walk (further infrastructure improvements wider Cheshire East Ecological Framework. described below).
Thriving Nature
As referred to on page 15, the Cheshire Wildlife Trust has mapped 21 https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/planning/neighbourhood- detailed wildlife corridors for approximately 25 Neighbourhood plans/neighbourhood-plans-a-f/alsager-neighbourhood-plan.aspx Planning areas in Cheshire East. The published neighbourhood
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Congleton Mountbatten Way is a four lane road, with central reservation and provides the main approach to the town centre. It severs the central The town has several “pinch points”, reflecting local needs for better area and presents a large area of sealed surface. GI. In terms of economy, the centre has high business density (ref. 2E) and major growth is expected in North Congleton (ref 11E). In Investing in ‘Greening Mountbatten Way’ could provide a highly respect of life chances and choices, some parts of the town visible change to the central part of Congleton and there are a experience high levels of deprivation and propensity to poor mental number of areas of hard surfacing forming part of the road health (ref. 11L and 12L). infrastructure that could be planted with street trees, hedges and shrubs. This could be supplemented with the planting of edges of Connections to greenspaces are generally good, but there is a vacant sites and car parking fronting the road. connectivity pinch point for north Congleton where the PRoW network is limited (ref. 3C) Localised treatments to business premises either side of Mountbatten Way could include retrofitting ‘greening’ of site The River Dane and its flood zone are an environmental pinch point frontages, green walls and green roofs. This intervention would be in respect of flood risk (ref. 11W) particularly important for the site on the southern edge of Congleton Park to improve the park’s setting. The town has several GI assets, including the River Dane and the Macclesfield Canal, Congleton Park and Astbury Mere Country An area east of Congleton town centre (ref. 11L) is highlighted as a Park. neighbourhood in the 10% most deprived in Cheshire East. It is characterised by inter- and post-war housing, with some areas In response, a GI Plan for Congleton can be grouped into three of open space (road verges, buildings set in areas of mown grass) broad activities: with an apparent lack of role and function. There are opportunities to increase the GI functions of these spaces through street tree Urban Greening planting to verges, habitat creation to the edges of open spaces and Getting Outdoors Easily SuDS schemes. These spaces would also benefit from being Working Alongside Major Infrastructure managed to be more welcoming and clean, encouraging use by local residents. Urban Greening The neighbourhood is also next to the northern end of the Biddulph In common with other Cheshire East towns, the central area of Valley Way and there are opportunities for better connections with Congleton (ref. 2E) has a high business density. This area of need this asset, so residents have easier access for recreation. has limited functioning GI although it is near to the wooded River Dane corridor and Congleton Park.
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Urban Greening and Working Alongside Major Infrastructure However, there appears to be little reference to the severance created by the bypass and the importance of north-south linkages. North Congleton (ref. 11E) is highlighted as an area under This would need to be addressed with the bypass’ detailed development pressure with a number of allocated sites in the Local landscape strategy. Plan and the construction of the northern bypass due for completion towards the end of 2020. Getting Outdoors Easily
The GI functions mapping indicates some areas of high Two areas in the western part of Congleton are identified as having multifunctionality in the vicinity of the River Dane corridor, including a high risk of poor mental health. The focus for these areas should the Forge and Radnor ancient woodlands and Westlow Mere involve ‘social prescribing’ where health and community services compared with very limited GI at the Radnor Park Trading Estate, help to signpost and facilitate activities in outdoor spaces for local Congleton Business Park and the Eaton Hall sand and gravel people. Both areas are near to Astbury Mere Country Park so there quarry to the north east. is good accessibility for potential activities as well as the Macclesfield Canal which runs through the town. The footprints of the bypass and allocated sites will require the loss of some GI and the development could sever some existing GI The draft neighbourhood plan and other proposals identify the networks. opportunities for improving cycling and walking routes around Congleton. Where plans are developed, this can provide The North Congleton Masterplan, commissioned by the Council in opportunities to generate wider GI benefits using the natural anticipation of the bypass and development, also proposes a environment. multifunctional open space network with each space having a clear role and function including: formal recreation, play areas, wildlife Handforth corridors, habitats and orchards. Strategic planting proposals include buffer planting next to the bypass for noise absorption and The town has several “pinch points”, reflecting local needs for better trapping air pollutants, additional woodland planting to reinforce the GI. In terms of economy, major growth is expected from the Garden Forge and Radnor ancient woodlands and enhancements to the Village at Handforth (ref. 7E) to the north eastern edge of the town retained network of landscape features. and next to the boundary with Greater Manchester. In respect of life chances and choices, some parts of the town experience high The Masterplan recognises areas of landscape quality and levels of deprivation (ref. 4). The northern part of the town is noted sensitivity such as the River Dane corridor and Westlow Mere by for its low tree canopy coverage (ref. 4T). proposing additional species rich planting and improved access for pedestrians and cyclists. It also recommends that any proposed The town benefits from the River Dean corridor, which forms the development fronting these areas follows an informal building line, boundary with neighbouring Wilmslow and multiple neighbourhoods with appropriate landscape treatment and is low in density. in Stockport such as Woodford.
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In response, a GI Plan for Handforth can be grouped into three Dean from the confluence with the River Bollin west of Wilmslow broad activities: north through Stanneylands and then east towards the Middlewood Way allowing increased access to Handforth Station for residential Urban Greening areas along the route. This potential ‘Dean Valley Way’ would be Getting Outdoors Easily particularly accessible for residents of Wilmslow, Stanneylands, Working Alongside Major Infrastructure Handforth and Handforth Garden Village.
Urban Greening Working Alongside Major Infrastructure
In response to the low tree canopy coverage the in the northern part An area of land of 114ha to the east of the A34 is allocated as the of the town there are number of sites for potential tree planting Garden Village at Handforth and will provide 1,500 homes and including the Wilmslow Road (B5358) corridor, Stanley Hall Park extensive areas of connected GI. The development of the land will (see also ref. 4L below) and Meriton Road Park. follow the requirements of the Garden Village at Handforth Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) 201822 and it sets a high Wilmslow Road provides the main approach to the town centre and standard and example for other potential development sites in there are opportunities along the southern section for street tree Cheshire East to follow by integrating multifunctional GI with the planting into the wide footways, including the hard surfaced area to development footprint from the outset. Connectivity from Handforth the Paddock Shopping Centre. The section north of the Paddock to the Garden Village through off road pedestrian and cycle Shopping Centre is characterised by a wide green verge along the connections should be promoted, as proposed in the SPD, to western side of the road and there are opportunities to supplement mitigate the severance effect of the A34. the existing tree planting.
An area to the north east of the town centre (ref. 4L) is highlighted Knutsford as a neighbourhood in the 10% most deprived in Cheshire East. It is characterised by inter and post-war housing, with some areas of The town has good GI and business investment is not constrained open space (road verges, buildings set in areas of mown grass) by environmental quality. There are strategic developments with an apparent lack of role and function, including Stanley Hall proposed where good GI planning will be needed to safeguard Park. There are opportunities to increase the GI functions of these existing features and ensure an attractive and sustainable setting spaces through street tree planting to (pinch point ref. 5E).
Getting Outdoors Easily 22 The Garden Village at Handforth SPD There would be longer term opportunities to form a continuous circuit by the creation of a ‘Dean Valley Way’ following the River
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The town is rich in GI assets and has good connections for a Knutsford has good access to open spaces and so the focus for number of users to Tatton Park, one of the borough’s key rural GI these areas should involve ‘social prescribing’ where health and assets and this is covered in more detail earlier in Part B under community services help to signpost and facilitate activities in Bollin Riverlands. However, there are two neighbourhoods with a outdoor spaces for local people. With access to Tatton Park on the high propensity to poor mental health (pinch point ref. 1L) or doorstep, this represents a significant GI asset for Knutsford as well vulnerability to air quality problems (ref. 2L) as for visits to the Park from further afield.
The GI activities most relevant to Knutsford are Working Alongside Major Infrastructure
Urban Greening The western part of Knutsford (ref. 2L) is identified as having high Environments for Business exposure to air pollution with its proximity to the M6. The Getting Outdoors Easily intervening agricultural land between the M6 and the town is Working Alongside Major Infrastructure characterised by arable farming with evidence of field amalgamation, limited tree cover and hedgerows. Priority should be Urban Greening and Environments for Business given to tree planting on some of this agricultural land to assist in capturing pollutants while there would also be opportunity to Although there is some existing ‘greening’ of the employment at contribute to the wider Cheshire East Ecological Framework. Parkgate Industrial Estate, there are also available roadside verges and grassed areas within sites that could be retrofitted with planting Middlewich and SuDS infrastructure to increase future climate change resilience and to reduce the risk of rapid surface water run-off from The town has several ‘pinch points’ including economy with large buildings and surfaces. allocation sites for employment and housing (ref.12E), some multiple deprivation to the south west of the town (ref. 15L) and Around Knutsford there are a number of examples of business poor access to green space over 20ha (ref. 12C). environments that have been created in the grounds of former estates. Sites such as Booths Hall, Toft Hall and Radbrooke Hall all In terms of GI assets, the town is at the meeting points of the Trent provide high quality environments that illustrate the value of GI to and Mersey Canal and the Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich business and investment. Branch). The River Wheelock passes to the western edge of the town, while the River Dane passes to the north. Despite their Getting Outdoors Easily attributes connectivity (wayfinding and legibility) from the town to the canal towpath network could be improved, access to the canal An area at the northern edge of the town (ref. 1L) is identified as corridor and sections of the towpath surface are of poor quality. The having a high risk of poor mental health. river corridors have visual interest with varied landform in the vicinity and some wooded areas but very limited public access.
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In response, a GI Plan for Middlewich has two closely related Nantwich activities: The town has several ‘’pinch points’’ covering economy with high Getting Outdoors Easily business density (ref. 4E) in the town centre. Working Alongside Major Infrastructure Several areas of the wider town have pinch points in relation to The description above highlighted disconnection between the town housing and employment sites (ref. 16E) and life chances and and the potential of the neighbouring waterways. A programme of choices and environment, due to propensity to poor mental health linking the waterway corridors to the town centre and residential (ref. 24L) and low tree canopy cover and a high proportion of sealed areas through a wayfinding system and provision of accessible surface (ref. 2T) rendering parts vulnerable to climate change. access points to the canal corridor would aid both the resident population and visitors to engage with the canal system and enjoy The town has some GI assets including the Nantwich Riverside the health benefits of exercising in a high quality environment. Park which forms a green corridor along the River Weaver and the western edge of the town. The Park is in the process of being An extensive area to the western and southern fringes of the town extended northwards along the River Weaver towards Reaseheath is allocated for employment and housing. This land should include a Hall. To the eastern edge of the town there is the Connect 2 Crewe multifunctional open space network with connections to the canal to Nantwich Greenway forming a recreational and sustainable towpath network and river network so that the GI assets have commuting link between the two towns. greater presence in the town and ultimately a ‘GI loop’ to the perimeter of Middlewich. The extent of the proposals should also In response, a GI Plan for Nantwich can be grouped into three address the limited access to larger green spaces. Where possible broad activities: development should address canal corridors, embracing the value of the waterside environment and connect to the canal towpath. Urban Greening Getting Outdoors Easily Any of the above proposals should include connections to the area Working Alongside Major Infrastructure of multiple deprivation giving residents easier access for recreation.
The GI recommendations for Middlewich should also be Urban greening implemented alongside those for the landscape scale projects for Dane Valley, River Wheelock and Weaver Valley, described earlier. The centre of Nantwich is an area of need for GI due to high business density. Some of this area has very little functioning GI as the town centre follows a typical historic pattern of dense built form with pavement fronting buildings, a number of surface car parks and few street trees. However, the Nantwich Riverside Park at the western edge of this area is a major GI asset in the vicinity.
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Given the constrained nature of the area, any urban greening signposting to encourage use of the towpath would be beneficial for interventions would need to be retrofitted into the existing urban engaging local residents. environment. There are a number of vacant sites and surface car park where the edges could be planted with street trees, hedges Working Alongside Major Infrastructure and shrubs. Localised treatments to business areas could include retrofitting ‘greening’ of site frontages, green walls and green roofs. Mixed use development is under construction to the north west of The areas of high business density also align with areas with a high Nantwich at Kingsley Field. GI investment should be given priority proportion of sealed surfaces and so the greening measures would along the River Weaver corridor adjacent to the development with also help to assist with addressing surface water run-off. onwards connections north of the A500 following the watercourse. Any further development sites in the town should contribute to this Water Lode (A534) forms a line of severance between the town strategic GI corridor. centre and the Riverside Park. Improvements to the existing crossings, supplemented by additional crossings, would provide Poynton easier access to the green corridor for workers in the town centre. In terms of ‘pinch points’, the town has several allocated sites for The residential area of south east Nantwich is identified as having employment and housing (ref. 9E) and a high risk of poor mental low tree canopy coverage. One of the main streets through the health to the eastern part of the town (ref. 5L). area, Hawksey Drive, has a grass verge next to a cycleway where there would be opportunities for tree planting. There are also grass The town benefits from Poynton Park and proximity to the verges available for planting along Peter Destapleigh Way which Middlewood Way and Macclesfield Canal to the eastern fringes of forms the southern edge to the area. the town. Both the Middlewood Way and Macclesfield Canal cross into High Lane in Stockport’s administrative area, representing Getting Outdoors Easily cross border assets.
An area at the northern part of the town (near London Road ref. In response, a GI Plan for Poynton can be grouped into two broad 24L) is identified as having a high risk of poor mental health. activities:
The focus for these areas should involve ‘social prescribing’ where Urban Greening health and community services help to signpost and facilitate Getting Outdoors Easily activities in outdoor spaces for local people. There would be opportunity for cycling and walking along the Connect 2 Crewe to Urban Greening Nantwich Greenway and better physical links to this asset from the London Road neighbourhoods should be prioritised. The Shropshire The allocated sites in Poynton are comparatively small in the Union Canal passes through Nantwich, well located for accessing Cheshire East context, however, development proposals should facilities on the western edge of the town. Increasing legibility and follow the same principles described elsewhere by retaining and
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A Green Infrastructure Plan for Cheshire East 2019 to 2030 reinforcing existing landscape features on greenfield sites. Open Sandbach spaces networks should be connected and multifunctional and links to the wider countryside should be strengthened through wayfinding The town has a pinch point in relation to a large housing and and crossing points at busy roads. employment site (ref. 13E) to the eastern edge of the town, a high risk of air pollution (ref. 16L) along the eastern fringes due to Getting Outdoors Easily proximity of the M6 and relatively low tree cover (ref. 11T) on land to the east, south and west of the town’s perimeter. The aim of this GI activity is to engage people and improve community access to, and enjoyment of, GI for health and In terms of GI assets the town has the Wheelock Rail Trail and wellbeing. Trent and Mersey Canal that provide a network of linear routes for people and nature to the southern edge of the town and east Physical access to GI in this part of the town is good with towards Alsager. pedestrian routes connecting to Poynton Park and the Middlewood Way. In response, a GI Plan for Sandbach can be grouped into two broad activities: The focus for the area of high risk of poor mental health should Working Alongside Major Infrastructure involve ‘social prescribing’ where health and community services Thriving Nature help to signpost and facilitate activities in these outdoor spaces for local people. Working Alongside Major Infrastructure
The GI Plan for Poynton should also make links with the Bollin The eastern fringes of the town, including the M6 corridor, are Riverlands landscape scale project. identified above as a pinch point for a number of needs. Tree planting should provide a particular focus for the allocated sites both in the streetscape, wider GI network proposals and with buffer Thriving Nature planting next to the M6. To further address air quality issues, tree planting should be encouraged along field boundaries on the As mentioned earlier, the Cheshire Wildlife Trust has mapped agricultural land east of the town and next to the M6. Where detailed wildlife corridors for Neighbourhood Planning areas in feasible, landowners should be encouraged to plant trees on Cheshire East, including Poynton. The published neighbourhood smaller fields and plots of land, to form tree buffers along the plan for Poynton includes policies and proposals based on recent motorway corridor. ecological surveys and mapping23. Thriving Nature 23 https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/planning/neighbourhood- plans/neighbourhood-plans-n-z/poynton-neighbourhood-plan.aspx Land to the south and west of the town is identified as being part of the wider Cheshire East Ecological Network, including the River
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Wheelock corridor, while also having relatively low tree cover. A Urban Greening range of structure planting should be encouraged near to the river Getting Outdoors Easily corridor providing diverse habitats for nature and providing an Thriving Nature overall increase in tree cover. The range of planting would include woodland, woodland edge and grassland. Urban Greening
The GI Plan for Sandbach would link with the River Wheelock The allocated sites will largely occupy greenfield land and landscape scale project. developers should be encouraged to retain and reinforce existing landscape features such as hedgerows, copses and watercourse The published neighbourhood plan for Sandbach includes policies corridors. These retained networks should connect with the wider and proposals based on recent ecological surveys and mapping24. countryside. Any proposals should include multifunctional open space networks with each space having a clear role and function including: formal recreation, play areas, wildlife corridors, habitat Wilmslow areas and orchards. Some of the allocated sites in Wilmslow have boundaries with major roads or the rail network, so pedestrian and In terms of ‘pinch points’, the town has several large allocated sites cycling links should also be considered to address severance. for employment and housing (ref. 6E) and poor access to greenspace from the southern part of the town (ref. 3L). Getting Outdoors Easily
Wilmslow benefits from the River Bollin corridor which maintains a The southern part of the town has limited access to greenspace so connected green corridor across the town and passing near to the any new development site should seek to address this deficiency. centre. The Wilmslow Neighbourhood Plan Green Links Map This area of town is close to the countryside, so opportunities for highlights the connected nature of the River Bollin Way and the better links to the local PRoW network should be considered. This opportunities for a similar approach along the River Dean which could include better way-marking and defined pedestrian crossings connects with the River Bollin and then flows to the northern edge across busier roads to improve accessibility. of the town. It also highlights some of the ecological assets around the area. The GI Plan for Wilmslow links directly with the Bollin Riverlands landscape scale project and the River Dean corridor. Earlier In response, a GI Plan for Wilmslow can be grouped into two broad reference to ‘Riverlands’ and to the proposed Dean Valley Way are activities: of direct relevance to getting outdoors easily in Wilmslow.
Thriving Nature 24 https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/planning/neighbourhood- plans/neighbourhood-plans-n-z/sandbach-neighbourhood-plan.aspx The large natural landscapes in Wilmslow including the river valleys, heathlands and mire habitats at Lindow Common, and the
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A Green Infrastructure Plan for Cheshire East 2019 to 2030 mossland and habitat mosaic in the wider Lindow Moss landscape, are complex ecosystems. Improving ecological connectivity between sites, maintaining and enhancing their habitat value and taking account of the potential for carbon storage in mosslands and woodlands are all important priorities. Lindow Moss is also important for its wider historic and cultural value and it is this assemblage of historical and ecological assets which makes this landscape particularly important to conserve.
The published neighbourhood plan for Sandbach includes policies and proposals based on recent ecological surveys and mapping undertaken by Cheshire Wildlife Trust25.
25 https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/planning/neighbourhood- plans/neighbourhood-plans-n-z/wilmslow-neighbourhood-plan.aspx
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Part C Delivering the GI Plan Partnership
Excellent GI in Cheshire East is a priority for many people, “Leading like-minded organisations in creating and managing GI” businesses and communities. As a “common good”, held in trust for future generations, GI needs a multi-stranded approach to Cheshire East has a long and proud history of partnership-working implementation, involving many partners. in planning, creating and managing GI. In the course of this GI Plan there is a need to develop new, and to maintain existing, strong This part of the GI Plan talks about how it can be delivered. The partnerships with all those who can contribute to, use and rely on Plan provides an evidence base and framework for like-minded GI. organisations or individuals who share a vision for excellent GI. While it has been commissioned by Cheshire East Council, it will be There is much common ground on issues of environmental quality, delivered through collective contributions, with leadership shared and an opportunity to work together in planning and delivery of GI, and distributed across the delivery mechanisms highlighted below: or to advocate for GI in the formulation of forward plans.
Cheshire East Council is already taking a lead, by commissioning Partnership this Plan, incorporating policies in the Local Plan and bringing forward an Environment Strategy to address the threat of climate Assets change. While the Council may maintain a commitment to
Communities leadership, it cannot deliver this agenda on its own. Therefore, existing or new partnership arrangements should be considered to Landowners take this Plan forward. While various project groupings may already exist, there is an advantage in leading a coordinated approach. This Development could be through an existing mechanism such as the Local Nature
Infrastructure Partnership, unless there is a need for a specific arrangement for a new GI Partnership for Cheshire East.
Strategies Assets
Finance “Managing our own GI assets so our land is resilient to climate
The Next Generation change and environmental quality improves to the benefit of local people”
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Organisations responsible for GI assets are collectively responsible Making land and assets available for GI activity for much open land, such as parks, amenity spaces, farmland, Promoting and celebrating successful GI work woodlands, natural sites and civic spaces. Stakeholders do not Encouraging networking, coalition-building and sharing of have full agency over all assets due to tenancies, easements, good practice covenants and other legal agreements. A continuous review of Providing training and templates for funding bids and writing of Local GI investment portfolios assets would be needed to actively implement opportunities to plant trees, create wetlands and wildlife zones, open new public access, Community resilience is a form of social wealth. Focus for most reduce pollution and rebuild carbon-rich soils. This would help corporate support will be towards the priority areas where there are deliver Cheshire East’s Environment Strategy and the Council’s deep-seated problems with environmental quality, mental health pledge to become carbon-neutral. risk or social deprivation (refer to the Life Chances and Choices pinch points in Appendix A). Nevertheless we will always celebrate For partners such as the National Trust and United Utilities, this and promote exemplary county-wide GI activity approach would help deliver charitable and corporate environmental objectives and make their assets more resilient to climate change. Landowners
Collectively a GI asset management approach would increase “Helping landowners safeguard and create GI” investor confidence that Cheshire East has a forward-looking approach to the protection of environmental quality. Cheshire has many public bodies, private individuals, estates, corporate bodies, associations and trusts who own and manage Communities land including:
“Empowering people to make a difference in their local area” Farmers Smallholders Cheshire East has a huge network of trusts, volunteers, parish and Schools, hospitals town councils, outdoor activity providers, park friends, Transition Sports and leisure providers Town champions and local businesses who care passionately about Businesses the quality of their local environment. Many of the Neighbourhood Gardeners Plans promote GI, including wildlife corridors mapped by Cheshire Wildlife Trust. Much of the GI is in agricultural use and farmers have seen Volunteers and community groups can be helped to build on their continuous changes in the way that GI is funded. The constantly- GI activity through measures such as: changing funding landscape, coupled with significant uncertainty
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A Green Infrastructure Plan for Cheshire East 2019 to 2030 over the future of agri-environment schemes, continues to hold Development back investment in GI. But there is an over-arching trend towards public funding being directed towards projects that sustain and “Ensuring new development creates places that people are proud enhance ecosystem services. In the context of the climate of, and at the same time, recognises, offsets and reduces adverse emergency and the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan; soil environmental impacts” conservation, and recovery of biodiversity, water and air quality are Changes in land use, population and traffic increases present the highest priorities. challenges to Cheshire East’s GI, on and near new development Stakeholders should work with all like-minded landowners to areas. Local Plan policy will thus be a major means of implementing promote and develop projects which enhance rural GI. There is no the GI Plan, which is a material consideration in planning decisions. ‘one size fits all’ and landowners have a menu of approaches that There is a fast-changing body of evidence and guidance regarding can be adapted for their circumstances: GI and development, so Local Plan policy may require review mid- Woodland and hedgerow tree-planting Plan period. GI implementation through development policy will “Roughening” the landscapes for surface water flow, (buffer occur in the following ways: strips, field margins, new wetlands) Location and Nature of Intervention Natural flood management Re-wilding Appendix A catalogues the GI priority areas and themes, showing Lowered intensity of grazing, mowing or pesticide use evidence about assets and pinch points. For new development, Public access and educational projects policy requires a GI assessment to consider effects on local GI Restoration of landscape character and natural beauty quantity, functionality, quality and accessibility and take opportunities to safeguard assets and address pinch points. Farmland owned or managed by the public and third sectors may offer opportunities for demonstration sites and ‘leading by example’. Offsetting and mitigation of adverse effect will be guided in Should Cheshire East become a target area, the Northern Forest locational terms by evidence in Appendix A. will offer a rallying-point for landowners to obtain advice, best- GI principles are embedded in the Cheshire East Design Guide and practice guidance and possibly funding for GI. Nevertheless it is can be embedded in site-specific development briefs, Area Action recognised that certainty over agri-environment incentives is Plans and town centre masterplans. These set out minimum needed before a step-change in delivery of rural GI is likely. expectations in respect of GI and, coupled with emerging environmental net gain practices, will help uplift quality of GI on site,
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A Green Infrastructure Plan for Cheshire East 2019 to 2030 and enable transfer of mitigation funds to GI projects in priority development does not lead to net loss of public benefits provided by areas. the overall resource of Green Belt land.
GI Standards This policy offers an opportunity to transfer resources for capital and management GI works to GI priority areas shown at Appendix Local Plan policy promotes an objective and qualitative approach to A. This will require a joint approach between the Council, developer GI in development. There are some external standards and many and landowners. This GI Plan can assist the Council and sources of guidance, but over the period of 2019 and 2020, a developers to define the required compensatory measures. national set of GI standards is likely to be issued by Government. At the same time there is increasing adoption of quantitative tools such Cheshire East GI stakeholders have a role to play through making as “Green Space Factor” or “Urban Greening Factor” which require its land assets available for compensatory GI measures associated development to deliver at least minimum quantities of on-site GI. with Green Belt release.
This will include standard-setting for governance and maintenance Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and Natural Capital of GI to ensure it is adequately funded and managed over the long- term. Where BNG policy applies (as mandated at national level and delivered through local planning decisions), offsetting contributions The Local Plan GI policy will be reviewed during the period of the should be targeted towards biodiversity led GI creation and Plan to take account of the emerging standards and guidance. enhancement at pinch points shown in Appendix A. These can be Documents such as the Cheshire East Design Guide will be regarded as strategic priority areas which developers are reviewed at an appropriate time. In the meantime, emerging GI encouraged to divert offsetting resources towards. standards and guidance will be applied to planning decisions. These will not only need to take account of the creation or There is sufficient diversity of pinch points to allow flexibility. Where enhancement of GI, but also its quality, value and on-going appropriate the Council and other like-minded members of the maintenance. Cheshire East GI partnership will review their landholdings to enable BNG policy to be delivered. Delivery of BNG will need to be Green Belt Compensation ‘measurable’ as set out in national policy.
NPPF (at para. 138) requires compensatory improvements to The BNG approach is likely to be extended to include other environmental quality and accessibility when areas of land are ecosystem services, notably carbon sequestration, flood risk removed from the green belt. These GI improvements must be regulation and contribution to public health, through the process of delivered on remaining Green Belt land. The intention is that “natural capital assessment”. Wider environmental net gain (ENG)
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A Green Infrastructure Plan for Cheshire East 2019 to 2030 offsets arising from development can also be delivered at relevant results in fragmentation or degradation of environmental quality, pinch points shown at Appendix A. For example, if a development either as a direct result of barriers to human and wildlife movement, cannot provide sufficient public health uplift to deliver ENG on-site, or through emissions to water and air, or through restrictions on there are opportunities to uplift public health through GI activity in trees, woodlands and wetlands near the infrastructure, or through nearby “Life Chances and Choices” pinch points. adverse effects on landscape character.
Northern Forest GI can increase the resilience of grey infrastructure to flooding, pollution and overheating. GI can also help assimilate grey A community forest plan is a material consideration in planning infrastructure into the receiving environment. decisions. Should Cheshire East be accepted as a target area, the Northern Forest Plan can be taken into account by developers and GI stakeholders will need to work with existing grey infrastructure planners, especially when major development is considered. providers and managers to identify where GI can increase resilience and reduce adverse environmental effects. Stakeholders If the eventual Northern Forest plan does not prioritise Cheshire can help develop projects to enable offsetting of unavoidable East, it is still possible for a GI Partnership to draw up a community impacts, reduction in fragmentation and overcoming of historical forest plan, especially given the climate emergency and the barriers. Stakeholders should promote the role of GI in asset significant benefits arising from tree and woodland planting in management planning and identify opportunities for co-investment. lowland Cheshire. Subject to the realisation of its future plans, HS2 is likely to have a Infrastructure significant effect within its safeguarded zone. Delivering its “Ensuring our existing and planned infrastructure is supported by commitment to environmental assessment, design quality and the GI needed to keep it resilient to a changing climate” environmental mitigation will be essential to maintain or enhance overall GI value, minimise adverse effects and rebuild and restore Cheshire East hosts much nationally important “grey infrastructure”, landscape quality and connectivity. including sections of the M6, the West Coast main line, the HS2 Strategies safeguarding zone, Manchester Airport and electricity network connections. Its water supply, drainage and transport infrastructure “Scanning the horizon to ensure GI is considered in, and adds value is also critical for the regional economy. All are somewhat to, plans, strategies and initiatives for Cheshire East” vulnerable to the effects of climate change in terms of higher inspection and maintenance costs and increased risk of catastrophic failures. The presence of linear infrastructure usually
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Strategies, plans and policies are continuously evolving and there Finance are opportunities for organisations to use the Plan to ensure the importance of GI is recognised in all relevant documents. “Achieving a step-change in GI Investment to deepen and broaden support beyond traditional public and philanthropic sources” This includes strategies relating to river basin planning, neighbourhood planning, transport, public rights of way, enterprise, Stakeholders in Cheshire East have a good track record in raising energy, waste, tourism, culture, heritage, town centres, public funds for GI and already have innovative mechanisms of using their health and wellbeing, education and infrastructure. In planning land and corporate resources to improve the environment. For terms, there may also be value in developing Supplementary example Everybody Sport and Recreation is a not-for-profit arms- Planning Guidance for Green Infrastructure using the evidence length body which leases Council sports and leisure facilities to base that now exists. deliver improved participation levels in sport and activity.
Stakeholders will also need to work with the private and third Cheshire East benefits from close neighbourly collaboration with the sectors to add value to their plans. For example, estate Mersey Forest and Greater Manchester where significant new development plans may benefit from consideration of how GI can thinking is emerging in relation to financing of GI. Much of the enhance land values or provide access to funding sources that following narrative leans on the Greater Manchester Natural Capital 26 27 would not normally be considered by the private sector acting Investment Plan and the Mersey Forest Plan . alone. Where businesses in Cheshire East have corporate A full list of active funders across Cheshire East is found below: responsibility or sustainability plans, stakeholders can assist by http://www.cheshireaction.org.uk/our-services/grants-funding/ signposting to case studies of exemplary GI activity and by providing opportunities to implement environmental schemes in the Blended Finance area. Figure 7 shows a range of possible investors. Public funds and Stakeholders will need to always look to add value to others’ plans, philanthropy are and will remain the bedrock of GI investment. because excellent GI is often a shared objective and adds However, post-2010 austerity and reduction of capacity within the resilience to economic activity. public sector and economic uncertainty have significantly reduced this investment pipeline, although there has been a general
increase in targeted charitable giving relating to social and
26 Eftec (2019), Greater Manchester Natural Capital Investment Plan. 27 Mersey Forest (undated) More from Trees
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A Green Infrastructure Plan for Cheshire East 2019 to 2030 environmental responsibility both amongst individuals and management, quality of place, improved health outcomes and corporations. Development-related funding mechanisms continue to habitat banks that can be used for development and carbon- evolve to capture a proportion of land value uplift and to offset offsetting. adverse effects of development. Table 1 lists the broad classes of investor and the types of GI most likely to be of interest to each. Achieving a step-change in funding and implementation will require blending of approaches. For example, in Cumbria, United Utilities is considering funding landowners to make improvements to farm practices and riparian habitats to reduce waterborne phosphorus, using a “flexible permitting regime” acceptable to the Environment Agency. United Utilities is also working with Nestle, dairy farmers and the Rivers Trust to establish a ‘co-investment’ scheme whereby farmers and riparian landowners are encouraged to make environmental improvements including tree and hedgerow planting, buffer strips, and wetlands which increase dairy supply chain resilience, reduce flood risk and improve water quality. Such a scheme could also be relevant to Cheshire.
The Council could pump-prime some of this activity by establishing a Green Infrastructure Fund investing in key initiatives to unlock potential or in leveraging additional funding or engagement. However, to achieve scale, a new financing model would eventually 28 Figure 7 - Blended Finance Diagram have to be found over time in order to draw together some of the
other resources and funding streams that could be applied to GI. An GI delivers several socio-economic outcomes, some of which are extended Green infrastructure Fund could provide a mechanism to readily investible, for example climate resilience, flood risk draw in private sector or philanthropic funds alongside public sector investment. To address such a new funding model, consideration would have to be given to actual or perceived conflicts of interest as 28 Adapted from Eftec (2019), Greater Manchester Natural Capital Investment part of the governance model with distinct accountabilities and Plan. oversight.
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Table 1 Types of potential investors in GI29
Investor Investor Form Typical Expectation Term Readiness to invest type size Public Central and Local Project funding variable Nil financial return Variable Yes, but budgets limited. Government Capacity building Cost savings Often have limited agency over land De-risking other investors Public goods and assets Dedication of land and assets Delivery of statutory objectives Philanthropist Trusts Project funding £5k - No expectation of financial Variable High levels of interest in exploring Non-Governmental Capacity building £2m return repayable finance models and impact Organisations (NGOs) De-risking other investors Potentially patient equity investment. Funds linked to Dedication of land and assets Publicity General decline in charitable giving lottery/levies Voluntary offsetting but uplift in offsetting Individuals Obligated Developers offsetting Project funding from obligated £5k - Nil financial return 3 to 5 Yes, but require firm proposal and impacts, allied to mitigation payments and £100K Publicity years audit trail from would-be beneficiaries voluntary discretionary funds Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Public Relations (PR) and Quality of Place funds Impact Social Investors Debt investment or some equity £150k - Repayment of principal plus 2- 3-5 Most investment in social impact Investor £2m 10% return years projects, little track record in environmental projects Corporate Water companies CSR Initiatives £100k - Repayment of principal plus 2- 3 to 10 Yes, but projects must meet investor- Insurance companies Voluntary mitigation payments £20m 10% return years specific criteria which may be Infrastructure Debt or equity investment Cost savings in delivery of influenced by regulatory agreements developers statutory or corporate objectives as to scope of project and limit to Commercial companies Increased resilience of built funding infrastructure Mainstream Pension funds Debt or equity investment £500k- Repayment of principal plus 5 to 25 Limited track record in environmental Financial sector £20m commercial returns years projects Green and charity bonds May be more interested when project Crowdfunding promoters have invested own assets High Net Worth or have an established brand that Individuals links to investor objectives.
29 Adapted from Eftec (2019), Greater Manchester Natural Capital Investment Plan.
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Pipeline of Investible GI Projects
The GI Partnership in Cheshire East will work to marry up investors with project. Table 2 shows which types of Cheshire East GI projects are most investible within a short (1-5 year) timeframe and which classes of investor would be relevant. Some examples of GI priority areas (from Appendix A) are given, although this is not an exhaustive list of either priority areas or investors.
Achieving a step-change in GI investment will require an entrepreneurial and opportunistic approach to marry up projects and investors, with much reliance on publicity and networking (see diagram below).
There is also a longer-term pipeline of GI projects which may become investible. These include: Figure 8 - Opportunities for Investment in GI30 Outcomes payments for agri-business to deliver soil conservation and carbon sequestration Green Business Improvement Districts Role of a GI Partnership Outcomes payments for parks and greenspaces to deliver physical and mental health improvements. Contributors to this GI Plan will have a leadership role to play alongside Cheshire East Council in making their assets and human resources available through collaboration and partnership, but it will take the efforts of the wider GI community to deliver a step-change in GI investment.
30 Adapted from Eftec (2019), Greater Manchester Natural Capital Investment Plan.
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Should a formal partnership be delivered to take this agenda together local authorities, the Environment Agency, Cheshire forward, the following roles should be considered for a GI Wildlife Trust, United Utilities PLC, the University of Liverpool, Partnership: Northwich BID, Mersey Forest and other local community groups and volunteers. Investment Commissioner, providing a supportive financial environment, assisting with business-planning, match- The Local Nature Partnership offers another existing partnership, funding and general fundraising and networking crossing borders with neighbours that presents an opportunity to Investment Readiness Fund to enable GI projects to present support such partnership working in Cheshire East. Local Nature their natural capital credentials and business plans in a Partnerships (LNP) were first announced in the 2011 Natural credible way to investors. Land Asset Release to enable GI projects to be Environment White Paper, as part of the institutional framework to implemented and managed in the long-term promote nature conservation priorities in local areas. The Cheshire Brokering, Fundraising and Networking to develop GI LNP’s vision is: “A healthy, connected, productive natural projects that can harvest mitigation, offsetting and environment richer in biodiversity, where the natural environment is development-related funds from developers and corporate embedded in decision making, managed for wildlife, supports investors healthier lifestyles and farming, creates attractive places and Kite-marking and Branding of GI projects in Cheshire East to delivers sustainable economic growth.” demonstrate that they are well governed and make a difference to local communities, thereby increasing their The LNP governance comprises a Board of 18 organisations from attractiveness to locally-based businesses and the local authority, public, private, voluntary and academic sectors philanthropists and a wider partnership network of over 160 individuals and Research and Policy development, in collaboration with Greater Manchester (Natural Capital Investment Plan, 2018) organisations. It therefore provides a forum with potential to support and the Mersey Forest to develop blended finance models. this agenda as a ‘community of interest; with a shared agenda.
This model of partnership in GI investment management is used by the Mersey Forest and is estimated to have an excellent multiplier effect in terms of extra resources brought in alongside the bedrock of public sector core funds.
The Weaver Gowy Catchment Partnership, hosted by Groundwork Cheshire is another example of a delivery mechanism that could be applied to for future projects across Cheshire East. This brings
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Table 2: Pipeline of Potentially Investible GI Projects within next 1 to 5 years
Project Type * Public Philan- Impact Obligated Corp- Main- Cheshire East Examples (Assets and Pinch points) thropy orate stream URBAN GREENING Tree-Planting and Urban habitats Principal towns and key service centres Urban SuDs As above New/Enhanced civic spaces As above GETTING OUTDOORS EASILY Forest Schools ? Bollin Riverlands Social Prescribing ? Principal towns and key service centres Outdoor Activity in GI setting ? Peak Fringe RIVERS & VALLEYS River Restoration and Washland creation Bollin Riverlands for flood resilience Outcome payments for water quality Dane Valley and Southern Peak Fringe THRIVING NATURE Habitat Banks ? Re-wilding ? Bollin Riverlands WORKING ALONGSIDE INFRASTRUCTURE Outcome payments for flood mitigation ? ? Environmental Design Standards The Garden Village at Handforth DISTINCTIVE PLACE Place-based trusts Forest for Cheshire (Northern Forest) FARMLAND & SOILS Peatland Restoration Dane Valley and Southern Peak Fringe Meres and Mosses management Sandstone Ridge Agri-environment support for catchment- River Wheelock friendly farming * The project types have been grouped under the most relevant GI activity, but in practice most projects will deliver multiple GI activity e.g. Habitat Banks will be relevant to major infrastructure and farmland and soils activity as well.
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The Next Generation The Mersey Forest has over 20 years of experience in effective monitoring and evaluation and adding value to the data it collects “Giving young people a voice and agency to shape environmental through use in funding and policy development. This would provide priorities for Cheshire East” a Cheshire East GI partnership with local expertise to share and Review of the history of GI in Britain shows that step-changes in apply best practice and to develop a set of indicators and evidence policy and funding have occurred as a result of fresh thinking by points. Techniques would include: relatively young people at times of socio-economic change, for Regular land cover monitoring to assess increasing cover of example the formation of Groundwork Trusts in the 1980s and the trees, habitats and wetlands establishment of community forests in the 1990s. That generation of Collation of publicly accessible data on tree-planting, environmentalists and planners is now nearing retirement. Presently environmental stewardship schemes, agri-environment there is recognition of climate emergency and significant agreements, habitat banking, outdoor exercise levels etc. biodiversity extinction possibilities, with high profile movements led Awareness surveys amongst the public, decision-makers, by the younger generation. influencers, developers and infrastructure providers Partner surveys to enable sharing of good practice and It is important that mechanisms are found to involve young people funding bids in policy and idea-generation for delivery of GI, and provide them Research, particularly into the value of natural capital in Cheshire East and how it would be affected by with agency to effect changes in the way public spaces are used development, infrastructure and compensatory GI provision. and managed for heath, community and environmental benefit. Where practicable, stakeholders should align monitoring and Monitoring and Evaluation reporting with Defra’s sustainable development indicators and/or Monitoring and evaluation is vital to show the outcomes from the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan and the Council’s own investments in GI. It helps to demonstrate the difference that GI Environment Strategy. makes and to communicate and advocate for investment. It also underpins ongoing work on policy and funding, helps target specific interventions, and informs research.
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